It all began shortly after 10:00 p.m. Thursday, when police responded to the neighborhood near Bristol High School after calls came in that a red SUV was driving erratically and had damaged several cars on Garfield Street.
According to investigators, the driver of the SUV crossed over Trenton Avenue, ran off the road, over a fence, and onto a grassy area behind Bristol High School where he came to a stop.
Police officers on the scene told him repeatedly to exit the vehicle. He did not, investigators say, so police smashed the window in order to get him out.
According to Bucks County 1st Assistant District Attorney David Zellis, one officer broke a window and reached for the keys in the ignition. That's when the driver of the SUV allegedly lunged at the officer with a butcher knife.
Zellis said the knife was actually pushed up against the officer's neck. Another officer fired one shot at the knife-wielding SUV driver.
The unidentified driver was transported to Frankford-Torresdale and pronounced dead overnight.
Officials confirm that the man was partially paralyzed on one side of his body.
The shooting happened on school property, though Bristol High is closed Friday for part of the Easter holiday break.
Officials are set to release additional details, including the name of the man who was shot by police, at a Friday afternoon news conference.
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