Smyrna Police fatally shoot man who displayed gun on The Murfreesboro Post

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Smyrna Police fatally shoot man who displayed gun

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By: By Lisa Marchesoni, Senior Writer March 10, 2007-12:14 PM

Smyrna Police fatally shot a resident after he displayed a firearm Friday night outside his Executive House apartment, a spokesman said.

Gregory Dayton, 54, of Executive House apartments on South Lowry Street died at StoneCrest Medical Center, said spokesman Sgt. Bobby Gibson.

Officer Luke Naylor, who shot Dayton, was placed on routine administrative leave while Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents investigate, he said. Naylor has served with Smyrna Police about two years.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol's Special Operations Unit, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms recovered commonly used explosive materials from Dayton's apartment.

A witness told police she was in Dayton's apartment earlier near the police department where he showed her bomb-making materials and reported he hid a firearm in the bushes. She notified police.

When officers responded about 8 p.m., they found Dayton in the common hallway of the apartment building and talked with him.

"He wasn't responding to any of their verbal commands," Gibson said. "At one point he turned around and displayed a firearm to them. At that point they had to use deadly force. One officer fired."

Police immediately took control of Dayton's firearm. They began rendering medical aid and called an ambulance. Paramedics responded and transported Dayton to StoneCrest. Doctors pronounced Dayton deceased shortly after he arrived.

Shortly after Smyrna detectives arrived, they called TBI to conduct the investigation because a police officer was involved.

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Member Opinions:

By: Boo on 3/11/07
Officer Naylor did the only thing he could do under the circumstances. I hope the TBI and his own department will stand by him!