New Delhi: A 42-year-old Indian-origin man was shot dead by police after they tried to arrest him in connection with an aggravated assault case involving a woman in San Antonio, Texas, news agency PTI reported.
Sachin Kumar Sahoo, originally from Uttar Pradesh, was declared dead by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office, stating that he succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds during the altercation with police.
The sequence of events leading to the encounter began when police officers responded to a report of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon at a house in Cheviot Heights. Upon arrival, they discovered a 51-year-old woman had been deliberately struck by a vehicle, allegedly driven by Sahoo, who had fled the scene. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, prompting detectives to issue a felony arrest warrant for Sahoo.
Hours later, neighbours alerted the police to Sahoo's return to the area. When police tried to approach him, Sahoo allegedly struck two officers with his BMW SUV. In response, one of the officers fired a gunshot, fatally injuring Sahoo at the scene. One officer was hospitalised, while the other received on-site medical attention. No other casualties were reported, PTI reported.
San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus said that Sahoo had allegedly run over the woman, identified as his roommate, with his vehicle, resulting in her critical condition. Prior to the fatal encounter, police had sought to locate and arrest Sahoo, who tried to evade arrest by fleeing in his car. Despite police attempts to block him, Sahoo managed to flee and hit the officers with his vehicle.
The investigation into the incident is underway, with police yet to review camera footage to ascertain other details.
Sahoo's former wife, Leah Goldstein, said that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and exhibited symptoms of schizophrenia. Goldstein described his decade-long struggle with mental illness, including auditory hallucinations and delusions, PTI reported.