Brothers Killed, Four Officers and Victim Wounded in Tennessee Hostage Situation

Four Clarksville, Tenn. Police officers were injured in a hostage standoff on Wednesday, with two suspects killed and an additional victim injured. Photo: Clarksville Police Department.

Two brothers were killed, and four police officers injured in a hostage standoff in Tennessee on Wednesday, August 16.

The hostage victim was also injured during the exchange of gunfire at a Clarksville apartment complex after police attempted to execute arrest warrants on the brothers for aggravated burglary, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

TBI special agents are investigating the officer-involved shooting that left brothers Brandon Green, 31, and Leonard Green, 33, dead.

The agency explained the hostage situation took a turn for the worst after midnight, following negotiations that lasted several hours before officers entered the home and gunfire was exchanged.

TBI does not identify officers involved in officer-involved shootings, and the Clarksville Police Department has not identified the officers either, describing their injuries as non-life-threatening in a social media post.

Hours-long Standoff

Police cordoned off the area earlier in the day, noting in a message to the public via social media that officers were attempting to negotiate with a “barricaded suspect” who was “an active threat” having fired “several shots” at officers.

According to local outlet Clarksville Now, around 2:00 p.m. officers attempted to execute the arrest warrants. Authorities did not release details on the condition of the hostage as of Thursday afternoon.

Residents of the apartment complex and members of the public were urged to avoid the area and no members of the public were injured in the hours-long standoff. Just before 4:30 a.m., the police department noted the incident had ended.

Parents of children at a nearby daycare complex were forced to wait over an hour for their children to be released to them as the area was blocked off, according to local outlets.

“TBI agents continue to work to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews,” a press release from the TBI stated. “Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the district attorney general for his review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters; that decision rests with the district attorney general requesting TBI’s involvement.”

Troubled Past

According to the local outlet, the Green brothers have had criminal histories in Montgomery County, Tenn. prior to Wednesday’s incident.

Leonard, according to the outlet, has a past filled with multiple arrests on charges including domestic assault, driving violations, evading arrest and contempt of court.

In 2019, he allegedly crashed into stop traffic and tried to flee before leading police on a one-mile foot chase, Clarksville Now reported. Just last year, he was charged with violating probation while allegedly attempting an assault and vehicle burglary.

The other brother, Brandon, has similar charges of aggravated assault, evading arrest and stalking, according to court records obtained by the outlet.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also responded to the scene. No additional information had been released as of Thursday afternoon.