LA MESA, Calif. (KGTV) - A man reportedly armed with a knife was shot by police officers during a confrontation in La Mesa Monday.
The shooting happened before 9 a.m. on Fletcher Parkway, at Amaya Drive, La Mesa police told 10News.
Police said a 13-year-old girl reported that an unknown man was throwing knives at her and chased her.
The girl ran to a sandwich shop to call 911, police told 10News. She was not injured.
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Responding officers located the man on Fletcher Parkway and attempted to take him into custody, but during the confrontation in which police officials said he refused to drop a knife, officers fired at least two shots at the man.
The injured man was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. His condition is unknown.
According to the girl's mother, Tammy Brown, her daughter was on her way to Parkway Middle School when she stopped by to walk with a friend who lives near Fletcher Parkway and Amaya.
Before she arrived, the victim noticed the man mumbling and yelling to himself before he reportedly threw a closed pocket knife at the victim, striking her.
After throwing the first knife, the victim says the man began pulling several machetes out of his pants. That's when the teen ran to the Subway to call police.
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When police arrived, they told the man to drop the knife but he refused to do so and continued running toward the Subway.
A witness says the man then stopped, turned towards one of the officers and charged at him with the machete raised above his head.
The officer fired at the man, striking him once in the abdomen and another time in the arm. Officers then gave first aid to the man until he was taken to the hospital where he is currently in stable condition.
According to the La Mesa Police Department, the officer involved is being placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard practice after an officer-involved shooting.
