Two Dead in Tennessee Store Shooting
NASHVILLE — A man facing charges of raping and kidnapping his former girlfriend opened fire at the woman’s workplace, leaving one employee dead before killing himself.
The gunman, 43-year-old Thomas Edgar Harrison, remained inside the Electric Picture Co. after the shooting and held off a SWAT team for more than an hour, Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said.
When police entered the video production rental store, they found Harrison inside a locked bathroom, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Gregory N. Griffith, 39, of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., was killed after he apparently confronted Harrison. The other 18 people inside the building -- two visitors and 16 employees, including Harrison’s ex-girlfriend -- escaped without injury, Aaron said.
Harrison had been charged with attacking his 26-year-old former girlfriend on June 3. He had been free on $90,000 bond, and the woman had a protection order against him.
Harrison entered the store about 11:15 a.m., gave a fake name and asked to see the woman, Aaron said. He was stopped by company security and escorted out.
He returned with a shotgun. Employees scrambled for safety as Harrison forced his way to the second floor, where he shot Griffith, police said.
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.