Knife-wielding man shot to death by police
BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bellevue a police officer shot and killed a man armed with a knife late Monday during a standoff at a house.
Officer Greg Grannis says said episode began about 10 p.m. with a 911 call about a suicidal man.
When police arrived at the house near the intersection of 151st Court Southeast and Southeast 46th Place, they saw through the window a man armed with a large kitchen knife and struggling with a family member.
Two officers entered the home, confronted the man and told him to drop the knife, Grannis said. At least one of the officers opened fire when the man refused to drop the knife.
"It's a split-second decision. You have very little time to assess, but they knew they could no longer stand outside and plan," Grannis said. "Not only did he not put down his weapon when directed to so, but he continued the assault, and then one officer opened fire."
The 42-year-old Bellevue man died at the scene, and both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, a standard procedure in law enforcement shootings.
The name of the man who was killed has not been released and the shooting remains under investigation.
The shooting was the second death involving a law enforcement officer on Monday. Early Monday morning, a young man was shot to death by an Okanogan County sheriff's deputy in Omak.
That shooting occurred after a man fled the scene of a traffic accident involving a stolen vehicle and was pursued by a sheriff's deputy.
The dead man has been identified as 18-year-old Bradley Behrens of Okanogan.
Officer Greg Grannis says said episode began about 10 p.m. with a 911 call about a suicidal man.
When police arrived at the house near the intersection of 151st Court Southeast and Southeast 46th Place, they saw through the window a man armed with a large kitchen knife and struggling with a family member.
Two officers entered the home, confronted the man and told him to drop the knife, Grannis said. At least one of the officers opened fire when the man refused to drop the knife.
"It's a split-second decision. You have very little time to assess, but they knew they could no longer stand outside and plan," Grannis said. "Not only did he not put down his weapon when directed to so, but he continued the assault, and then one officer opened fire."
The 42-year-old Bellevue man died at the scene, and both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, a standard procedure in law enforcement shootings.
The name of the man who was killed has not been released and the shooting remains under investigation.
The shooting was the second death involving a law enforcement officer on Monday. Early Monday morning, a young man was shot to death by an Okanogan County sheriff's deputy in Omak.
That shooting occurred after a man fled the scene of a traffic accident involving a stolen vehicle and was pursued by a sheriff's deputy.
The dead man has been identified as 18-year-old Bradley Behrens of Okanogan.