Police kill man called suicidal

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, April 7, 2004 | 9:22 a.m.

Metro Police this morning shot and killed an allegedly suicidal man in a parking lot on Decatur Boulevard near Oakey Boulevard.

Police said the man, whose name has not yet been released, called 911 several times from a pay phone and said he wanted to kill himself. Patrol officers found a distraught man outside the King Buffet at 1617 S. Decatur Blvd. about 3 a.m.

The man refused to follow police commands to surrender so they could get him help. An officer shot him with a Taser gun but it had no effect, police said.

Police said the man pulled a black object from his waistband and officers, believing it to be a gun, fired at him. The object turned out to be a metal clip used for rock climbing, police said.

It's not clear how many shots were fired or how many officers were involved. The officers' names will be released after 48 hours according to departmental policy.

The man was taken to University Medical Center, where he died.

Decatur between Oakey and Charleston was still closed this morning while police investigated the shooting.

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