By Joanna Putman
Police1
BALTIMORE — Body camera footage released by the Baltimore Police Department shows officers’ response to a naked man on a street corner that turned into an officer-involved shooting after the man charged them with a machete, WMAR reported.
The footage, released on Jan. 11, shows a Dec. 30 incident unfolding in a convenience store with apartments above it. Video shows the suspect, identified as Russom Gebretsadik, 37, standing naked on a street corner before entering the convenience store.
Officers spent several minutes checking the back of the store for the suspect. When they entered a stairwell, Gebretsadik threw an extension cord and other unknown items at the officers.
After getting a ballistic shield, officers re-entered the stairwell. Video then shows a knife flying through the air and hitting the shield. Gebretsadik, now clothed, appeared at the top of the stairs, and was swinging the machete at officers.
Click below to see the full body camera video.
Officer James Stokes then fired several shots, hitting Gebretsadik. Gebretsadik survived his wounds. He was arrested and charged with attempted murder with atrial date scheduled for Jan. 22.