KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Two policing experts said the Knoxville Police shooting of 41-year-old William McBride at a Knoxville gas station was justified.
Officer Seth Beeler shot and killed McBride at an Exxon in Fountain City.
"It's a very traumatic event for everyone," Kevin Davis, a retired detective who now trains officers, said.
Late Wednesday, the Knoxville Police Department voluntarily released body camera video of the shooting. It shows McBride running at Beeler with two knives.
"There is, unfortunately, nothing you're going to be able to do to rectify the situation but stopping him," David Sarni, a retired NYPD Detective and Adjunct Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said. "The chances of that officer getting stabbed is much more likely than not."
Next, the video shows Officer Beeler standing over McBride with his gun drawn for about 3 minutes. He didn't provide aid to McBride during that time.
"Unfortunately, you're not going to render aid as a single officer to a person because, right now, you don't know how dangerous the situation is," Sarni said. "He controlled the scene as best he could and waited for backup."
Once backup arrived, Beeler is seen on video handcuffing McBride.
"We can't ascertain how debilitating the wounds are on the subject. What we try to do is to secure that person," Davis said.
The video, voluntarily released by KPD, cuts off after the officer handcuffs McBride. KPD spokesperson Scott Erland sent the following statement to 10News.
"There is police video of the moments when officers rendered aid. That was not included in the video that was shared today but we were clear about the timeline of what was captured in the video, what was included in today's release, when aid was rendered and when additional medical personnel arrived at the scene. The video cuts off seconds after 5:32, just before responding officers began rendering aid and KFD arrived at the scene. Any additional video from the incident will be released after the TBI concludes its investigation and the District Attorney General's Office has made a determination."
Erland noted the Knoxville Police Department Office of Professional Standards is also investigating the shooting and the officers' actions afterward.