Dec 20 (Japan Times) - A police officer fatally shot a man armed with a knife during a confrontation at the man's house in Niigata on Friday night, police said.
The officer fired his pistol once, hitting the 37-year-old in his chest at around 8:50 p.m. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital about two hours later.
In a country with strict gun control, it is relatively rare for a police officer to fatally shoot a suspect, particularly one who is not carrying a firearm.
Hiroaki Shimizu, head of the personnel and training department of the Niigata Prefectural Police, said the use of a handgun was appropriate in this case, although it is regrettable that the man died.
Source: ANNnewsCH