Officers kill man pointing a shotgun

Heather Rawlyk

Monday, Feb. 16, 2004 | 10:05 a.m.

A man was shot and killed by Metro Police officers Saturday, after he aimed a gun at police in an apparent suicide attempt, authorities said.

At 10:45 a.m., a woman called 911 and told the dispatcher that her ex-boyfriend was threatening suicide.

Patrol officers arrived at the man's apartment in the 1000 block of Dumont Boulevard and made contact through the use of a bullhorn. Police later persuaded the man to speak with them by telephone.

The man was despondent, police said. SWAT officers and crisis negotiators were called to the scene.

Before assistance arrived, officers heard the sound a shotgun action being cycled, police said. After hearing a loud noise, officers believed the man had shot the gun.

Moments later the man opened his door and exited the apartment, holding a shotgun. He leveled the shotgun at officers positioned outside the apartment, and two officers fired their guns in defense, police said.

The man fell back into his apartment and closed the door. SWAT officers entered the apartment and found the man dead.

The name of the man was to be released after notification of his family.

The two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on routine paid administrative leave, police said. Their names were to be withheld for 48 hours.

It was the fifth officer-involved shooting in Metro Police's jurisdiction this year.