A man is in critical condition following the second officer-involved shooting in Hartford in just over a week.
The shooting occurred after officers responded to 687 Blue Hills Ave. just after 11 a.m. on the report of a suicidal man holding a knife, according to Lt. Aaron Boisvert of the Hartford Police Department.
Multiple officers arrived and made contact with the man and confirmed that he was allegedly holding a “large knife,” Boisvert said.
At some point during the interaction an officer deployed a Taser, which was not effective, according to Boisvert. The man with the knife then allegedly approached one of the officers, who backed up and called for him to drop the weapon, Boisvert said.
The officer fired his gun at the man. The individual, who has not been identified, was rushed to a hospital where he underwent surgery, Boisvert said. He was listed in critical condition.
The Connecticut Office of Inspector General is investigating the shooting. The officer who was involved has not been identified.
The incident marks the second knife-wielding man to be shot in Hartford in a little over a week, according to police.
Everard Walker, 53, was shot and killed on Feb. 19 in his Capitol Avenue apartment after his family called 211 for help when he ran out of his medication, family members and their attorney, Ken Krayeske, said at a news conference this week. Two social workers and police responded to the apartment.
A preliminary report issued by Inspector General Eliot Prescott alleges that Walker brandished a knife and raised the blade toward a policeman who had fallen over during a scuffle in the apartment involving Walker and his family members.
Officer Alexander Clifford fired multiple shots at Walker, who was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Krayeske said the family is considering a wrongful death lawsuit if city officials do not reach out to them to reach a resolution.
Clifford is on administrative leave while the incident remains under investigation.