Nashville police officer Josh Baker pulled over Holbert's vehicle while she was driving. Police allege Baker pulled Holbert over as he recognized her vehicle in connection to another individual wanted on drug warrants. That individual was not in the vehicle, and Baker proceeded to question Holbert. Holbert tells Baker the vehicle is not hers and Baker proceeded to search through Holbert's bag. Baker alleges he found drugs in Holbert's purse and walked back to his patrol vehicle. Holbert gets her purse again and gets back into the vehicle. Baker escalates and uses his taser on Holbert and tugs on her to exit the vehicle. He then shoots Holbert, killing her.
Killer: Josh Baker
Agency: Nashville Police Department
Motive: vehicle's owner has drug warrants, was not the person killed
Confrontation Type: Other Non-Violent Offense
Service Call: No
Body Camera: yes
Official Disposition: Pending investigation
Victim Name: Nika Nicole Holbert
Death Date: March 12, 2021
County: Davidson
Geography: Suburban
Gender: Female
Age: 31
Race: Black
Cause of Death: Gunshot, Taser
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: No
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: gun
Threat Level: attack
Fleeing: not fleeing
Washington Post Database ID: 6696