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.
The name of the suspect has not yet been released. Two officers are on administrative leave pending an investigation.