Prosecutors: Armed man barricaded in basement charged officers with weapon, was shot and killed

EAST GREENVILLE, PA — Authorities in a Philadelphia suburb say they are investigating the death of a man who authorities say attacked police officers with a gun before being shot and killed by an officer.

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office said East Greenville police responded to a domestic disturbance call after an 18-year-old called 911 shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday to report a physical assault. Prosecutors said officers arrived to find a man barricaded in the basement of the home and alleged he was threatening to harm law enforcement.

Prosecutors said officers from other agencies also responded to the scene and made several attempts to negotiate with the man.

Officers broke down the basement door around 11:30 p.m. Saturday and found the man armed with a machete and an axe, prosecutors said. They said the man “charged toward officers” and refused to drop his weapon.

An attempt to hit the man with a stun gun failed to stop him, and an officer with the Upper Perk Police Department in Pennsburg fired his weapon, striking the man. Police rendered aid, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after midnight, prosecutors said.

The man’s name and other details were not immediately released.

Prosecutors said county detectives were sent to investigate, as is protocol for officer-involved shootings in the county. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact detectives.