Domestic Violence Fugitive Wounded After Firing at Police

A 21-year-old armed domestic violence fugitive who fired on an MNPD officer early this morning on Lewis Street in Napier housing is being treated at Vanderbilt for gunshot wounds to his leg and buttocks after the officer returned his gunfire.

Knykholas Lane’s estranged girlfriend and the mother of his child called police at 12:50 a.m., reporting that Lane was trying to gain entry to her apartment. Last Thursday, police responded to the same apartment after the woman reported that Lane punched her in the face twice and held her against her will in a bedroom before he fled. Arrest warrants charging Lane with false imprisonment and domestic assault were issued last Thursday. The victim also obtained an order of protection.

Hermitage Precinct Officer Eric Ziegler was the first responding officer to this morning’s call and saw Lane running adjacent to a driveway in Napier homes. Ziegler called for Lane to come to him, but Lane increased his running pace. Just after Ziegler got out of his marked police SUV and again yelled for Lane to “come here,” Lane fired his semi-automatic pistol. Ziegler returned the gunfire. Lane fell to the ground with wounds to his buttocks and leg. Ziegler called for an ambulance and rendered aid to Lane before he was transported to Vanderbilt. No officers were injured.

Lane was convicted on two counts of aggravated burglary in March 2023 and received a three-year sentence to be served on supervised probation. He was arrested on a probation violation warrant on Tuesday of last week, two days before the domestic assault incident.

Officer Ziegler is a three-year MNPD veteran. He is now on routine administrative assignment. The TBI is leading the investigation into the shooting. Per policy, the police department’s Office of Professional Accountability is conducting an administrative investigation to ensure that this morning’s response reflects the high standards expected of MNPD officers.

In-car and body-worn camera footage from this morning’s incident can be found at this link: Body-worn camera footage