A Mt. Juliet Police officer is on administrative leave after shooting a man who pointed a gun at officers and another individual early Saturday morning. The man who was shot was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. when Mt. Juliet Police officers responded to a call of a man reportedly threatening to kill himself at a home in the 700 block of Stonegate Drive, near I-40 westbound.

Sgt. Tyler Chandler, community policing director, said in a news release that shortly after police arrived, they established a safety perimeter around the home. A short time later, the 56-year-old man exited his home carrying a handgun. The man reportedly raised and pointed the gun in the direction of police officers and a bystander, and one of the officers responded by firing upon the man who was hit by the officer’s gunfire.

During the incident, Chandler said, there were two adult female family members and one male child in the home. There were not aware of the incident until notified by police officers.

“No one else was injured during this incident,” Chandler said.

“This is certainly a traumatic event for the injured subject, his family, and the officers involved. Our thoughts and prayers are extended for a quick recovery,” said Mt. Juliet Police Chief James Hambrick. “Police officers can go through their entire career and never be involved in this type of incident. This is one of the most difficult things an officer has to do.”

As with all officer-involved shootings, the investigation is being conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The officer involved will be on administrative leave pending the TBI’s investigation, which is also normal protocol.