Metro identifies officer involved in shooting

By Amanda Finnegan, Mary Manning

Friday, April 24, 2009 | 3:22 p.m.

Metro Police today identified John Abel as the officer who shot a man wielding a knife during a domestic dispute Tuesday night.

Abel has been with Metro Police since January 2007. He has been reassigned to the traffic section during the investigation.

The man shot by Abel was identified as 30-year-old Marcus Jackson.

Officers went to the 9500 block of Knotweed Avenue, near Fort Apache Road and Patrick Lane, at about 11:08 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a report of a violent domestic disturbance, police said. As officers approached the front door of the house, they heard yelling and screaming from inside, police said.

At that point officers knocked on the door and announced they were there but didn't get a response, police said. As officers entered the home, they were confronted by Jackson, who was armed with a hunting knife about 17 inches long, police said.

Jackson, still armed with the knife, began moving toward officers in an aggressive manner, police said. Fearing for their safety and the safety of the woman inside the residence, officers fired several rounds, striking Jackson.

He was taken into custody and transported to University Medical Center's Trauma Unit, where he is being treated for his wounds, police said.

Jackson was booked in absentia for attempted murder on a public officer and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon, police said.