On the morning of February 12, 2021, Nashville Police Officer Josh Baker, 31, conducted a routine traffic stop near Ewing Avenue after noticing a vehicle driving suspiciously. The car was registered to Desmond Buchanan, a man with outstanding warrants. However, the driver turned out to be his girlfriend, 31-year-old Micah “Nika” Hobart.
Body-camera video captured Hobart stepping out of the vehicle and speaking nervously with the officer. Baker discovered marijuana in her bag and continued searching, ultimately finding a white powdery substance. As the evidence mounted, Hobart became increasingly distressed and made several frantic phone calls—including to her foster mother, who worked at a detention facility.
When Officer Baker moved to detain her, Hobart resisted violently, ran back toward her car, and attempted to escape. Baker deployed his Taser, but in a sudden escalation, Hobart pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and fired multiple shots at point-blank range.
Officer Baker was struck in the hip and fell to the ground. Hobart fled but crashed a short distance away due to severe gunshot wounds sustained during the exchange. She was transported to a hospital but died shortly afterward.
A forensic report later confirmed she had been hit four times—twice in the back and twice in the hip and thigh.
Court documents revealed Hobart had a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2010, involving multiple felonies and identity-related offenses. Those close to her described a difficult upbringing, including childhood neglect and traumatic family events. After reviewing the full body-cam footage, her foster mother eventually acknowledged that Hobart was responsible for the tragic outcome.
Officer Baker survived his injuries and returned to duty a month later.
