NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A routine traffic stop in Nashville turned deadly Friday morning when a shootout erupted, leaving a police officer wounded and a woman dead, authorities said.
Officer Josh Baker, a 14-year veteran of the Metro Nashville Police Department, stopped a black Chevrolet Camaro after learning the vehicle’s owner was wanted on six outstanding drug warrants. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Nika Nicole Holbert, was not the registered owner.
What began as a standard stop quickly escalated. According to police spokesman Don Aaron, the encounter “devolved” into a shootout when Holbert fired at Officer Baker, striking him in the torso. Baker returned fire, hitting Holbert, who then drove away from the scene.
Following the gunfire, Holbert’s vehicle crashed nearby at Brick Church Pike and Moorewood Drive. She was transported to TriStar Skyline Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Officer Baker underwent surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and was listed in stable condition following the procedure.
Police have not released details about what prompted the escalation, but Aaron acknowledged that backup could have helped manage the situation. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has taken over the investigation, which is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings. The Community Oversight Board was also notified.
Baker is a legacy officer—his father, Danny Baker, served as commander of the East Precinct. Nashville Mayor John Cooper released a statement following the incident, saying, “What happened today is a reminder that being a police officer anywhere can be a dangerous job. My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Baker and with the families of everyone involved.”
The shooting shut down the area near a Dollar General store on Brick Church Pike, and a nearby daycare was placed on lockdown as a precaution.
