Man with an ice pick fatally shot by Warren police, sparking questions
Some said Tuesday they are grateful they are safe.
Others — with the memory in mind of killings like George Floyd's in Minnesota — want to know if, in this case, lethal force to stop a man with an ice pick was excessive, and wondered if mental illness played a role in his response.
Police said the man was a suspect in a domestic violence incident in which a woman reported being threatened with a knife in the 27,000 block of Railroad Street, but he ran away before officers arrived.
Authorities did not say what prompted the dispute or whether the woman was injured.
In addition, police said, the woman told them the man also threatened to harm officers "with a weapon." The initial report did not whether the weapon was the knife — or a gun or something else.
The man's name was not released.
According to the police account: After the suspect ran, officers then began looking for the suspect — who may have been armed and a danger to officers and others — and then eventually spotted him near George Merrelli Drive and Lorna Avenue.
"Officers then encountered this male suspect who produced an icepick and at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred," police said. "The Warren Fire Department was contacted immediately."
He was taken to a hospital where "he ultimately succumbed to his injuries."
Police said no officers were injured.
As part of the investigation, police said that detectives and technicians combed the scene for evidence. They will likely try to piece together what happened at the scene and review procedures.
More: As spring approaches, expect a few days of warmer weather — then torrential rain
Some residents, however, are already raising questions on social media comments and posts, calling for the release of more information about the incident and body camera recordings and questioning whether lethal force was called for — or necessary.
Last year, an 18-year-old who may have been in mental distress was shot by police three times and died near Ryan Road north of 11 Mile Road. In that case, police said they were notified that the suspect hadn't slept for days and was threatening his family.
Police later released graphic video of the shooting in which the young man pointed a handgun at officers and the officers shot him. The teen was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police did not address whether the suspect Monday had threatened officers directly — or whether using a device, such as a Taser, that emits an electric shock to overwhelm and immobilize, but not kill, him was a realistic option.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Police fatally shoot man with an ice pick in Warren
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5 hours ago
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Meadville taps ex-FBI agent to review police action in physical confrontation with man
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San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours ago
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Chicago Tribune
7 hours ago
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Daywatch: CPD officers reporting use of force more often
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