The shooting took place in Nashville's Bordeaux neighborhood around midnight while Officer Christopher Royer was on routine patrol, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said in a press conference following the shooting.

Officer Royer pulled over a white Mercedes after running a licence plate search and finding the plate was registered to a 1998 green Chevrolet, according to MNPD's Don Aaron.

"The passenger instantly got out of the Mercedes with two huge butcher knives, one in each hand, and started running around erratically," Aaron said.

The man can be seen attempting to enter the MNPD squad car on Royer's body camera footage.

Officer Royer yells at the man to put down the knives on several occasions. Before the officer fires three shots, the man is seen turning toward Royer and charging him.