Sheriff: Deputy fatally shoots man who was armed with knife

LAKELAND, Fla. – Authorities say a Florida deputy has fatally shot a man who was armed with a knife.

The Ledger reports that the shooting occurred Monday afternoon in a Lakeland neighbourhood.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says deputies were investigating home robberies when they encountered a car driving recklessly. Deputies tried to pull the car over, but the driver turned into a yard and then fled on foot.

Judd says a deputy caught up with the man and ordered him several times to drop a knife. The sheriff says the man was shot when he walked toward the deputy while still holding the weapon.

The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It wasn’t clear if he was connected to the home robberies.

The sheriff’s office didn’t immediately release the name or race of the deputy or suspect.

___

Information from: The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.), http://www.theledger.com