Update 2:20 p.m., July 30
The man shot and killed by a Cody police officer Monday allegedly advanced toward officers carrying a knife "in an aggressive manner" before the officer fired the fatal shot, Cody police said in a Wednesday release.
The suspect, 22-year-old Lucas James-Erick Alvesteffer, was originally from Byron Center, Mich., and had two active warrants for his arrest from Campbell County, Wyoming, including one for domestic battery, according to police.
The incident began when Alvesteffer's vehicle became disabled because of a mechanical problem near mile marker 58 on Wyoming State Highway 14/16/20. Officers at the scene issued multiple verbal commands to Alvesteffer, which he ignored, according to Cody police.
One officer reached inside the vehicle to grab Alvesteffer, and he produced the knife, according to police. The officer retreated, and Alvesteffer exited and allegedly moved toward officers with the knife. One officer fired his department-issued gun and struck Alvesteffer, who died at the scene. No officers were injured.
The officer who fired, who was not identified in the news release, was placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard policy for any officer involved in a shooting. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating.
Update 11:10 a.m.
The Park County (Wyoming) Coroner's Office identified the person killed as 22-year-old Lucas James-Erik Alvesteffer.
No other details, including what actions immediately preceded the shooting, were released.
Read the full press release here.
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Original Report
CODY - A person was shot and killed by an officer after leading police on a pursuit in Cody.
The Cody Police Department said in a press release that the incident began Monday shortly after 8 p.m. when a city officer tried to stop a vehicle in the 2600 block of West Avenue.
The driver of the vehicle failed to stop, and the officer pursued the vehicle through the city and then eastbound on Wyoming State Highway 14/16/20.
The pursuit ended near mile marker 58 on the highway when the suspect vehicle experienced a mechanical failure and came to a stop.
The shooting happened when an officer made contact with the suspect. The suspect was fatally wounded. No officers were injured during the incident.
The name of the person who was shot and the officer involved in the shooting have not been released.
The incident is under investigation by the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation.
