A Villa Rica man who authorities said grabbed a West Virginia police officer's gun after a chase was fatally shot.
The incident happened Saturday night when Stephen Lawrence Knight, 31, was arrested during a traffic stop, a police spokesman said.
According to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, citing spokesman First Sgt. Michael Baylous, Knight was in a vehicle with several other people when the vehicle was pulled over around 11:45 p.m. Saturday. Police said Knight gave Bluefield police a false name and refused to provide other personal information. He also refused to be frisked for weapons. It was then that police said Knight was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car.
Authorities said Knight managed to get his handcuffed hands in front of him while in the back seat of the police car, climb into the front seat and drive away.
When he was finally stopped, Knight got into a struggle with an officer and got his gun. Police said he refused to hand it over and was fatally shot.
Knight, a convicted felon, had multiple arrests and convictions in Georgia and Florida.
Earlier this month, a man was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop in Clayton County after police said the man pulled a gun and shot the driver of the car in which he was a passenger.
About the Author