Holly MatkinSeattle, WA – A knife-wielding suspect was fatally shot by police as he ran at them while waving a blade in the air on Tuesday night (video below).
The incident began at approximately 9:20 p.m., when the Port of Seattle Police Department (PSPD) reported that a “suicidal” man was seen walking in the area of Seneca Street and Alaskan Way with a knife to his throat, The Seattle Times reported.
“One of my units saw a suicidal subject,” the PSPD dispatcher told the Seattle Police Department (SPD) dispatcher in the audio recording released by the department Wednesday. “He’s got a knife to his neck.”
He was described as a bald, white male wearing a black jacket and black pants, the PSPD said.
“He’s cut himself now,” she added, shortly before the audio clip ended.
The SPD later confirmed that PSPD used less-lethal weapons in an attempt to stop the suspect before they called Seattle police, but the weapons were “ineffective,” The Seattle Times reported.
It is unclear what types of less-lethal weapons were utilized.
SPD officers arrived to find the armed suspect walking near Pier 56, The Seattle Times reported.
“Hold on – watch out,” one of the officers warned his partner as they got out of the patrol vehicle “He’s got a knife.”
“You need to stop – stop where you’re at,” the officer told the suspect.
The man refused and started walking towards the officers saying “just do it,” the video showed.
“No!” the officer yelled, raising his weapon and pointing it towards the knife-wielding man. “Get down on the ground!”
The officer backpedaled briefly as the suspect picked up speed, still advancing.
“Do it! Do it!” the man yelled, running into the street. “Please, kill me!”
Police opened fire as the suspect closed in on them with the blade raised above his head, the video showed.
The knife-wielding attacker immediately collapsed to the ground.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, The Seattle Times reported.
His identity has not been released.
Investigators recovered a bloody knife at the scene, according to the SPD.
The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, as per protocol, The Seattle Times reported.
The SPD Force Investigation Team and the Seattle Office of Public Accountability are handling the ongoing investigation into the incident.
Rioters upset about the officer-involved shooting took to the streets of downtown Seattle later Wednesday night and proceeded to smash out the window of a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, KIRO reported.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. Warning – Graphic Content:
Sandy Malone
