Man with sword is fatally shot by Modesto police officer
Police say the an was acting suspicious in front of a downtown hotel. The officer who shot him has been placed on paid administrative leave.
A man armed with a sword was shot and killed by a Modesto police officer early Sunday.
Police answered a 5 a.m. call about a suspicious man carrying what appeared to be a sword or a large knife in front of the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Modesto.
The first officer on the scene shot the suspect, a 44-year-old man whose identity was not released. "It is believed that the suspect was armed with a 2- to 3-foot-long sword when confronted by the officer," Modesto police said in a news release.
The man was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The identify of the officer, who has been placed on paid administrative leave, was not released.
bettina.boxall@latimes.com
