Memphis police gun down alleged hit-and-run driver

Police say an officer shot and killed a man, who threatened the officer with a sharp object after he was stopped for allegedly hitting two vehicles.

The man, who was driving a blue truck, slammed into the vehicles in the parking lot of a store and drove off around 8 p.m. on Friday, according to Sgt. Vince Higgins, police department spokesman.

One of the hit-and-run victims followed the driver then called police and told them the truck was weaving on and off the road.

When officers stopped the truck, the driver jumped out and started cutting himself with a sharp object but then turned the weapon on police, said Higgins.

“At some point, he took the edged weapon and turned to attack the officers,” said Higgins.

Police say the man, whose named was not released, continued to threaten the officers _ even after being sprayed with a chemical agent. An officer then shot the man, who died on the scene.

The officer, whose name was not released, has been relieved from duty with pay during the investigation, Higgins said.