The naked man fatally shot by a Cobb County police officer Tuesday night has been identified as 18-year-old Tendai Nhekairo.
The incident happened at an apartment complex off of Shadowood Parkway around 7:40 p.m.
Police responded to a 911 call and a report of shots fired at the complex, police spokesman Sgt. Dana Pierce told the AJC.
When officers arrived on the scene, they encountered Nhekairo, who was nude and armed with two knives, Pierce said.
Nhekairo attempted to assault one of the officers in the breezeway of an apartment building, and that officer "defended himself by discharging his firearm at the suspect," Pierce said. Nhekairo died at the scene.
Channel 2 Action News reported that Nhekairo was a student at nearby Campbell High School, and classmates held a candlelight vigil for him outside the school Wednesday night.
His mother, Blessed Nhekairo, told Channel 2 that she had never seen her son behave violently and knew of no mental health problems he may have had.
The investigation is continuing, and the officer involved, whose name has not been released, has been placed on routine administrative leave, according to Pierce.
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