Ohio deputy fatally shoots man running at him with knife

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio sheriff says a deputy has fatally shot a man who was running toward him while holding a knife.

Clark County Sheriff Deborah Burkett’s statement today said the shooting occurred Sunday evening at Buck Creek State Park in the western Ohio county. Burkett says Deputy Justin Nawman was patrolling the park when he saw 29-year-old Michael Spencer with the knife and blood on his hands and neck.

The sheriff says other deputies and law enforcement officials who responded to Nawman’s call for assistance tried to help Nawman defuse the situation, but Spencer ran toward the deputy with the knife and Nawman fatally shot him.

Burkett says Nawman was put on administrative leave, which is standard policy for the sheriff’s department.

Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting.