October 08, 2026
DEVELOPING: Armed Man Fatally Shot by Security Inside Nashville Federal Courthouse
Headline card by The Night Desk
What happened
A man who pulled a gun inside the federal courthouse in downtown Nashville on Thursday morning was fatally shot by a court security officer, authorities said.
The shooting happened about 9:30 a.m. CT in the lobby of the Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse, about three blocks south of the Tennessee State Capitol. The building was placed on high alert as law enforcement secured the scene.
The sequence
According to Metro Nashville police:
- A 42-year-old man from out of state entered the public lobby, pulled a gun and pulled the trigger — but the gun jammed.
- The man then pulled out a knife.
- A security guard working for the U.S. Marshals Service, manning the checkpoint at the public entrance, opened fire.
First responders transported the man to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead. No other injuries were reported.
Who he was
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified the man as Jack Henson II, 42. He was not a litigant at the courthouse and was not on the docket — police say he was not there to appear before a judge.
The investigation
The TBI is leading the shooting investigation at the request of 20th Judicial District Attorney General Glenn Funk and the U.S. Marshals Office. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Metro Nashville police are assisting, and authorities say they are exploring Henson's background.
A motive was not immediately known. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob McGuire called the shooting "unprecedented."
This is a developing story. The Night Desk will update this article as details are confirmed.
Source: Associated Press / USA Today
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