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Police: Officers fatally shot machete-wielding man

Posted at 1:00 PM, Jul 24, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-24 13:00:33-04

BURLINGTON, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina police have shot and killed a man who they say threatened officers with a machete.

The Burlington Police Department issued a news release saying officers responded Monday afternoon to reports the man was cutting a vehicle's tires outside a home.

Authorities say police tried to calm the situation but the suspect wouldn't comply. Officers used stun guns, which had little effect.

The news release says the suspect then threatened officers, and he was shot and killed. Names of the man and officers weren't immediately released. Assistant Chief Brian Long says further information on their identification and race is expected to be released later Tuesday.

He says the suspect appeared to be suffering from psychological distress.

State investigators are probing the death, which is standard practice in police shootings.