DENVER – A Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway officer shot and killed a man who allegedly stabbed him as the officer was trying to take the man into custody on a warrant on Saturday morning, a Denver police spokesperson said.
Denver Police Division Chief Ron Thomas said the BNSF officer, who has not been identified, approached the man over trespassing concerns near E. 46th Avenue and National Western Drive around 9 a.m. Saturday.
Thomas said the BNSF ran a clearance on the man, found he had a felony warrant, and was working to arrest him when the man pulled out a knife and stabbed the officer. The officer was able to pull his weapon and shoot the man, killing him, Thomas said.
Colorado State Patrol and Denver police were called to the scene to assist.
Thomas said the officer was in critical condition but stable, with multiple stab wounds, as of 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Thomas said he was unsure how many shots were fired in the shooting. DPD will conduct the investigation into the incident.
“The BNSF police officer is being treated at a local hospital. He is alert. The incident is currently under investigation,” said Ben Wilemon, a spokesperson for the BNSF Railway.
On Tuesday, Aug. 18, the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner identified the victim of the shooting as William Wallace, 54, and said his cause of death was from a gunshot wound.