Police: California man fatally shot by officers was wielding only metal spatula, not knife

Published September 09, 2010

| Associated Press

MODESTO, Calif. – Police in California say officers feared for their safety when they gunned down a man who turned out to be wielding only a metal spatula when he was shot.

Modesto police Sgt. Rick Armendariz says the fatal shooting of 45-year-old Francisco Moran occurred after family members reported he was drunk, belligerent and armed with a knife.

Armendariz told The Modesto Bee that three officers entered the house to find an elderly man injured on the floor and family members yelling that Moran had a knife.

Armendariz said that after officers shot Moran with a Taser stun gun to no effect, the suspect lunged at them while reaching for a shiny metal object they later discovered was a spatula.

The two officers who opened fire are on paid leave.

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Information from: The Modesto Bee, http://www.modbee.com

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http://www.foxnews.comhttp://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/09/police-california-man-fatally-shot-officers-wielding-metal-spatula-knife/