WOODINVILLE, Wash. -- A 59-year-old man who was shot to death by a sheriff's deputy on Saturday was holding a knife, officials said.

Investigators have not said exactly what prompted the shooting that left James L. Slater Jr. dead.

King County sheriff spokesman John Urquhart said the incident began about 8:40 p.m. when a crying woman called 911 and said "I need the police."

Deputies arrived at the house in the 16000 block of NE Woodinville-Duvall Road about five minutes later and talked to the woman, who had been assaulted.

She pointed out a man who was walking away from the house and identified him as the one who attacked her, Urquhart said.

The man, who officials said was holding a knife, came back and sat down on a porch. Urquhart said the man had what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds on his arms.

Officials said Slater was then fatally shot by a deputy, but Urquhart did not say what caused the officer to fire.

A witness said other neighbors heard the deputy yell "put it down," then two gun shots.

"We walked down to the end of the driveway just as they covered him with a blanket and blocked off the scene with a tarp," the witness said.

Urquhart said a shooting review board will determine if the deputy's actions were within policy.