Seattle Police Shoot, Kill Suicidal Man

KOMO TV (Seattle) ^ | 11-27-01 | KOMO Staff

[scooter2]

KING COUNTY - Seattle police say a suicidal man was shot to death early Tuesday after he lunged at officers with a knife. Officer Duane Fish says the 23-year-old man was shot three times in the abdomen after being confronted in a Lake City-area home. The man died soon afterward at Harborview Medical Center.

Fish says four officers were sent to the home after a woman reported that a man was threatening to commit suicide. Two of the officers had special weapons and tactics training but were assigned to regular duty. Fish says police fired a Taser stun gun when the man became agitated, but that failed to subdue him and he proceeded to lunge at the officers. That's when he was shot.

"One of the officers, one of the SWAT officers who deployed the Taser, his outer clothing is cut," Fish said. "In the process, the cover officer, SWAT officer with ten year's experience, was able to fire several rounds at the suspect."

Names and other details remain unclear, including the relationship of the man and woman and whether either lived in the house.

KOMO's Mark Miller on the scene says several people who did live in the home were being cared for by the Red Cross as police continue their investigation.

[scooter2]

This story says a lot about the affectivity of stun guns. Do you really want airliner crews relying on these?

[SocialMeltdown]

You used the wrong key words. You should have used: Knife Violence or Knife Control.

[All-American Medic]

We have a term for this, "Suicide by Cop" This guy didnt have the guts to kill himself, so he had someone else do it for him.

[GenXFreedomFighter]

This guy didnt have the guts to kill himself, so he had someone else do it for him.

Gee, I thought that was Dr. Kevorkian's territory.

[Roger the Shrubber]

In the process, the cover officer, SWAT officer with ten year's experience, was able to fire several rounds at the suspect.

LOL shooting at is a lot different than shooting into.

[hoosierham]

Why can't they just let these people theatening suicide ALONE INSIDE the apartment or home ? If there is no one else inside who needs rescuing, just make sure they can't get out and then wait. Too many people and cops believe the cops must "take charge" and resolve the situation at once.This has got to make the person who called for help feel just great-call the authorities for help for someone and have them killed instead.

[tdadams]

That's one way to make sure he doesn't threaten suicide again.