Man Police Say Was Armed With Knife Shot, Killed In Newport Beach

NEWPORT BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A man police say was wielding a knife was shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting in Orange County, authorities said Sunday.

Officers responded to the 200 block of 61st Street in Newport Beach for a domestic violence call just after 9 p.m. Saturday.

When they arrived, an officer made contact with the suspect on a sidewalk. They said he was in possession of the knife.

Authorities and witnesses said the man initially complied with orders to drop the weapon. But moments later, police say he re-armed himself.

That's when "the suspect then exhibited threatening actions towards the officer," Newport Beach police said in a news release.

CBS2's Adrianna Weingold spoke to neighbors of the deceasedwho knew him for decades .

Neighbors said the husband and wife lived together on 61st street for more than 20 years. Neighbors Weingold spoke with didn't want to show their faces on camera.

The incident reportedly started with the  suspect's wife calling for help. She was bleeding from the head. neighbors said.

"He was in a fit of rage, he was not himself because generally he's a very pleasant, actually easy going man," said one neighbor.

Another neighbor says he was out for a walk when police rolled up. He said he was standing just behind police when his longtime friend came toward them with a knife. He says his friend initially complied with the police but he got up and took the knife and again motioned toward them.

"He came running out holding a knife, just running in his underwear, he wanted to hurt somebody," said the friend of 25 years.

"He was motionless for two or three minutes and all of a sudden he raised his head and he looked like a wild man and said 'Screw it if you're going to take me, you're going to take me.' He hopped up, grabbed the knife and was throwing it at the cop and towards me," said the man.

Police then shot the suspect. He was taken to the hospital and died a short time later.

The suspect's wife was also taken to the hospital with some kind of head injury -- neighbors say he hit her in the head with a frying pan. Her condition is unknown.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with further information  was asked to call Det. Rick Henry at (949) 644-3797 or Sgt. Ryan Peters at (949) 644-3764.