Report of shots fired at Nashville-area theater

Police Chief Steve Anderson said that Montano was 29 years old. He thanked Metro police for their quick response.

The gun he was carrying looked like a real firearm but was an airsoft pistol, Nashville police said on Twitter. They were a 58-year-old man, 53-year-old woman and 17-year-old girl.

No motive for the pepper-spray assault has been identified.

Steven added that he had “no idea why this gentleman decided to attack us”. The bomb squad destroyed the backpack, which contained a “hoax explosive device”, Anderson told reporters.

The man said he had no idea why the suspect decided to attack the theater.

The gunman, a 29-year-old unnamed local white man, also wore a backpack that was strapped to the front of his body.

“We are very grateful we only have three pepper-spray exposure cases to treat at this point”.

“There was dust flying everywhere”, said plumber Sean Oliver, who heard multiple shots and was able to see the back of the theater.

The air inside the theater was thick with the chemical irritant, according to Aaron.

No one was transported to a hospital, Haas said, but Steven, his daughter and another woman suffered irritation from pepper spray apparently used by the suspect, who was wearing a surgical mask.

Authorities say they are still investigating reports one person may have injuries from the hatchet.

Montano had been reported missing Monday, just two days before the shooting, Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said at a Wednesday evening press conference.

Police have not released any information about any possible victims, other than the suspect.

Authorities arriving on the scene confronted Montano inside the theater, firing shots at him before he fled through a back door outside, where he ultimately died. “The only person who was shot was the suspect as he emerged out of the rear door of the single movie theatre”, he said.

One officer initially encountered the gunman inside the theater and exchanged fire with him.

No other details were immediately available.

The shooting comes about two weeks after a shooting at a cinema in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Officers responded to the Carmike Hickory 8 theater on Bell Road within minutes of receiving calls shots were fired around 1:13 p.m.as they were working a nearby crash.