Antioch, Tennessee, Movie Theater Shooting Reported

A man wielding a hatchet and a gun and wearing a surgical mask was killed in a shootout with a SWAT team that stormed the movie theater where he was initially reported, local officials said Wednesday.

The suspect, who has only been identified as a white male, is the only person who was shot and who died at the Carmike Hickory 8 theater in Antioch, said Don Aaron, a spokesman for Metro Nashville police.

Aaron said the suspect sprayed the movie theater, which was showing "Mad Max: Fury Road," with some chemical substance which has not been identified yet, and police suspect that is why he was wearing a surgical mask.

Police officers responded within minutes after getting a call of an active shooter, in part because a pair of officers were already working an accident nearby by, officials said. One officer initially encountered the gunman inside the theater and exchanged fire with him. He was later killed trying to exit the back door.

The suspect had two backpacks with him. While officials said the immediate danger of the situation has passed now that the shooter is dead, officials are still working to make sure there is nothing harmful in the backpacks.

CBS affiliate WTVF reports authorities said two women were doused in the face with pepper spray by the suspect. The suspect also heavily sprayed chemicals inside the theater. Officials responded with gas masks.

One other victim was treated for non-life threatening injuries. All three were treated and released on the scene.

It is unclear if there were other victims.