AndrewBlakeClayton, GA – The Clayton Police Department released video of a Feb. 1 police shooting where the suspect crashed a car and then repeatedly tried to stab the officer with a knife before the officer shot and killed him. (Video below)
The incident started when an officer attempted to stop a vehicle that was driving 68 mph in a 45 mph zone, according to Clayton Police Chief Andy Strait.
The video is about 8 minutes, 30 seconds and starts showing the officer in pursuit of the vehicle.
When the officer caught up to the other vehicle, it was crashed into a tree.
The officer got out of the car and ordered the man in the car to not move. Instead, the suspect appeared to try to kick out the back window of the car to escape.
The officer approached the car and repeated the command for the suspect to stay in the car and not to move.
The suspect then succeeded in kicking out the back window and then tried to climb the adjoining tree before jumping on the hood of the car.
The suspect jumped off the hood of the car and lunged at the officer but stumbled while the officer continued to yell for him to stop and get on the ground.
Instead the man got up off the ground and repeatedly tried to stab the officer with a knife. The officer backed up and warned the suspect he would shoot him if he continued but the suspect didn’t relent.
As the suspect was just inches away, the officer shot him.
“At one point, he was able to kick the back window out of the vehicle, climb onto the roof with a knife and dive at the officer on the ground. Officer is continually giving him verbal commands, ‘stop or I’ll shoot,’ and the suspect says ‘I don’t care’ at one point, continues at the officer in a slashing motion, stabbing motion, within less than a foot and the officer was forced to shoot. And unfortunately, the suspect was deceased at the scene,” said Chief Strait, according to WAGA-TV.
The police didn’t release the identity of the officer but did say he was a Marine veteran.
Chief Strait said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation would oversee the officer-involved shooting, according to WAGA.
You can see the video of the incident below. The action starts about 1 minute in. WARNING – Graphic content: