Man accused of charging police with machete fatally shot by Pennsylvania officer

A man accused of charging police with "a machete and hatchet" at a residence in Pennsylvania was shot by an officer over the weekend, officials said.

At just after 8 p.m. local time Saturday, East Greenville Police received a report of a physical assault from an 18-year-old 911 caller. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a 55-year-old man spewing threats to authorities while barricaded in the basement, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

Multiple agencies responded to the home, and police attempted to negotiate with the man, who was not named in the DA office's statement. Eventually, hours later, at 11:30 p.m., officers broke down the basement door and discovered the man with the machete and hatchet.

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"He charged at police officers and refused police commands to drop the weapon," officials said. "An officer attempted to taser the suspect, which failed to stop him. An Upper Perk police officer discharged his firearm, striking the man."

The Upper Perk police officer was not publicly identified.

It was a 'sad turn of events,' neighbor says

According to the DA's office, the man was pronounced dead on the scene. Montgomery County detectives were on site to investigate the incident.

Neighbors stood by and watched Saturday night's incident unfold. One woman, Stephanie Young, told Fox 29 that it was a "sad turn of events" and described the man as "friendly."

"If he had just come out of the basement his sentence would be far less than death sadly, he’d be able to see his babies and his 18-year-old daughter walk down the aisle some day. And that’s the part that hurt me most, his babies are growing up without a dad," Young continued.

Another neighborhood added, "I really think it was done in a wrong way. He shouldn't have to lose his life."

East Greenville is about 50 miles from Philadelphia.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.