A man who allegedly refused to drop a knife he was holding at St. Louis Lambert International Airport was shot and killed by police on Friday morning, according to authorities.
Just after 1 a.m. on Nov. 21, airport police officers were performing standard security checks at Terminal 1 when they allegedly observed a guy brandishing a knife, according to a news release from the St. Louis County Police Department.
Police said the guy refused to drop the weapon and was tased by one officer.
“The suspect continued to advance towards officers, and a second police officer fired his service weapon, striking the male suspect,” according to the statement.
The individual, who was not recognized, was pronounced dead at the site.
“I don’t believe it was a restricted area,” police spokesman Vera Clay told Fox 2 from the scene. “But keep in mind that the airport is for people who are traveling, so use it accordingly.
“A better question for the St. Louis Airport Police, and this is part of the inquiry, is why this person should not have been in the area where they were. Also, keep in mind that they had a firearm and approached the police. They were asked to leave but did not comply.
CBS News reported that airport operations were not affected throughout the incident. The policemen have not been officially identified.
Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Lambert’s CEO and Airport Director, made a statement following the shooting, stating, “Today’s incident in Terminal One was a tragic event for our airport community,” according to Fox 2.
