The head of the Cincinnati Police Department said on Monday that a suspect who was shot and killed by police on Sunday rushed at an officer and tried to stab him with a knife.
Police Chief Eliot Isaac told reporters that it was a "vicious, violent attack," and that the officer "was forced to defend himself," according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Officials said that Officer Anthony Brucato was being attacked by 25-year-old Jawari Porter, a suspect in a robbery, when he fired the fatal shot.
The shooting occurred around 7:40 a.m., about 20 minutes after police say the robbery took place at a nearby Kroger store at 1420 Vine Street. Isaac said that Porter held a knife to the throat of a store security guard.
Brucato and Officer Patrick Galligan spotted Porter on Government Square near Main Street when officials said the suspect started charging Brucato as he exited his cruiser. The officer fired six shots, striking Porter several times. Galligan did discharge his weapon.
Brucato, a 25-year veteran of the force, suffered minor injuries in the incident.
