The day after Escondido police officers shot and killed a suspect armed with a knife, investigators described the shooting as a case of “suicide by cop.”
Officers confronted the suspect just before 11 p.m. Saturday at Washington Avenue and Trovita Court.
The 29-year-old man was carrying a knife.
Responding officers ordered the man to drop the knife and attempted to use a taser to get the man to comply.
Soon after officers said the man charged officers.
"A total of 5 shots were then fired. This was from a distance of about 6 to 10 feet,” said Lt. Neil Griffin with the Escondido Police Department. “So the officers felt like they were immediately threatened, which they clearly were. "
Investigators said they found a note and several text messages on the suspect’s phone indicated he was suicidal.
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The name of the suspect has not yet been released. Two officers are on administrative leave pending an investigation.
