A police car is seen in a file photo. (Alexandru Cuznetov/MCT)
Authorities in suburban Philadelphia say they are investigating the death of a man who officials allege charged at police officers with a weapon before he was shot and killed by an officer.
The Montgomery County district attorney’s office said East Greenville police responded to a domestic call after an 18-year-old called 911 shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday to report a physical assault. Prosecutors said officers arrived to find a man barricaded in the basement of the home and allege that he was threatening to harm law enforcement.
Prosecutors said additional police from other agencies responded and there were several attempts to negotiate with the man.
Officers breached the basement door at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday to find the man armed with a machete and hatchet, according to the prosecutors. They said the man “charged at police officers” and refused to drop his weapon.
An attempt to hit the man with a stun gun failed to stop him, and an officer from the Upper Perk police department in Pennsburg fired his weapon, striking the man. Police rendered aid but the man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after midnight, prosecutors said.
The man’s name and other details weren’t immediately released.
Prosecutors said county detectives were sent to investigate, as is protocol for shootings involving officers in the county. Anyone with information about the case is being asked to contact detectives.