A police officer in San Marcos, Texas, fatally shot a man Thursday night after the man allegedly threatened two pedestrians with knives and later ran towards an occupied business still armed, according to local authorities.
The incident began when two men walking near East Hopkins and Cheatham Streets called 911 around 9:30 p.m. to report that they were being followed by a man, who they said had menaced them with "two large knives" after trailing them from a convenience store, officials described the ordeal as an immediate threat, FOX 7 Austin reported. The suspect, described as a shorter Black man in his 20s, had fled the scene as the two men called for help but were later spotted returning to the same convenience store around 10:33 p.m.
When police encountered the man at the store, he ran across the street towards an occupied business, despite officers' attempts to halt him using a stun gun, which proved to be ineffective as per the KXAN news release. In response to what was a threatening move towards the business with the weapon in hand, a San Marcos police officer shot the man.
After the shooting, officers provided first aid until the man was transported to Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle where he was pronounced dead, the severity of the situation led to immediate medical attention but the efforts were in vain as his injuries were too severe the city officials' statement expressed deep regret over the loss of life. Both the San Marcos Police Department and the Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting, and an autopsy is expected to be conducted by the Travis County Medical Examiner to further understand the fatal events of that night.
