A Fort Worth officer shot and killed a man wielding a sharp object after he reportedly harmed himself and approached the officer on U.S. 287, police say.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Police in Fort Worth are investigating a fatal officer involved shooting that occurred Thursday afternoon near U.S. 287, closing both northbound and southbound lanes to traffic during rush hour.
As of 7:10 p.m., all lanes of the highway have reopened.
According to Fort Worth Police, around 4 p.m., an officer was traveling northbound on U.S. 287 near Maddox Ave when he noticed a man leaning over the bridge with an object in his hand. Fort Worth police said they received multiple calls earlier in the afternoon reporting a man on the bridge with glass in his hand, cutting his neck.
In a press conference, Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia said the officer stopped to check on the man and realized that he had a sharp object in his hand. The officer said he then saw the male starting to use the object to cut himself on the neck, Garcia said. When the officer stepped out of his vehicle to address the man, the man allegedly ran toward the officer with the sharp object in his hand, prompting the officer to fire his weapon, Garcia said.
According to Garcia, the officer rendered aid, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Watch Garcia’s full press conference:
The highway closures affected the northbound lanes near the Mitchell Boulevard exit and the southbound lanes at Rosedale Street.
The officer involved in this incident is a six-year veteran and is currently assigned to Central Patrol, Garcia said.
Detectives with the Major Case Unit and Internal Affairs are handling the investigation, according to Fort Worth Police.
This is a developing story check back for updates.