Metro officer shoots man armed with sword
A Metro Police car is shown at the Sandhill Apartments near Boulder Station after an officer-involved shooting Tuesday, May 5, 2020.
Published Tuesday, May 5, 2020 | 11:44 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, May 5, 2020 | 2:37 p.m.
A sword-wielding man was shot and killed by a Metro Police officer this morning at an east valley apartment complex, authorities said.
The man, who died at a local hospital, “advanced quickly in a threatening manner” toward police before the officer fired, Metro Capt. Nichole Splinter said.
Police were summoned about 10:30 a.m. to a disturbance in the 3300 block of Sandhill Road, near Boulder Highway and U.S. 95, Splinter said.
The man with the sword was standing on the second floor, yelling down into a common area, she said.
Officers tried talking to him but backed away when he started to make his way downstairs, Splinter said. When he kept coming at them, the officer fired, she said.
Further details were not immediately available.
This was the seventh officer-involved shooting this year and the third fatal police shooting. The three fatalities have occurred in the last three weeks.