Police: Officer Shoots Man Charging with an Ax

A St. Petersburg man is dead after he was shot by police for running at an officer while holding an ax, according to St. Petersburg Police PIO Mike Puetz. 

Police said at 6:48 Tuesday night officers received a report of a man holding an ax walking on Central Avenue in the area of 4th Street.

"The caller stated that the man was acting very agitated and was yelling at a group of four to five individuals," the police report said. 

As officers approached the area, one officer saw multiple people running around the northeast corner of Central Avenue toward 4th street.

Moments later, police said the officer saw a man rounding the same corner holding a large ax, "which he had raised in a threatening manner."

Puetz said the man started coming toward the officer yelling indiscernible words.

The officer, police said, pointed his gun at the suspect and commanded him to drop the weapon. Once the advancing suspect got within seven feet of the officer, he was shot. 

According to police, the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Neither the officer nor any of the witnesses involved suffered any injuries.

Investigators have tentatively identified suspect as a 27-year-old homeless man. Police said they would release his identity once his next-of-kin have been notified. 

Detectives said they believe the suspect did have a documented history of mental health issues in the past and may also have issues with substance abuse.

Acquaintances report that the suspect was seen with the ax earlier in the day, acting aggressive in and around Williams Park, but police said no one alerted authorities.