BLUEFIELD, VA (LOOTPRESS) – On November 4th at approximately 5:50 pm officers responded to the area of College Avenue on a call of a male shoplifter who had run from Walmart employees.
The subject ran on foot from Walmart crossed College Avenue and then onto College Drive. Officers arrived on scene at College Drive and made contact with the individual who at this point was holding a knife in each hand.
Officers produced their firearms and gave commands to the individual to drop the knives and get on the ground. The individual did drop one knife on the ground but then put the other knife to his chest and started backing away from the officers refusing to obey commands. The individual continued to back away a short distance until he came into contact with a retaining wall, officers continued to give commands and tried to persuade the individual to take the knife away from his chest.
The individual proceeded to make statements indicating that he wanted to end his life. A short time later the individual began stabbing himself multiple times in the chest. A Taser was deployed at this point by an officer in an attempt to incapacitate the individual to prevent further self-harm.
The individual was subdued long enough for officers to remove the knife from his hand and get him handcuffed. The officers immediately began life-saving measures and continued to do so until emergency services arrived on the scene.
The individual passed away later that night due to self-inflicted wounds.
No lethal force was used by officers during this incident.