Police shootings in Gummersbach: knifeman known to police
The suspected stabber from Gummersbach, who was seriously injured by police gunfire, was no stranger to the authorities. The 30-year-old had already attracted attention for a number of criminal offenses, NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) reported to the state parliament's interior committee on Thursday.
Since 2017, the man had appeared in court for property, drug and violent offenses, coercion, threats, arson, violations of the Weapons Act and assault on law enforcement officers.
The police had been called to a supermarket last week in connection with a shoplifting incident. According to the investigation, the man had stolen several cans of beer and punched a supermarket employee in the face when she asked him to pay for the beer. He is said to have drunk one can beforehand and put it back on the shelf empty.
When the four police officers confronted the suspect a short time later, he allegedly threatened them with a cutter knife and injured one of the officers in the face. The officers had fended off the attacker with chairs.
The man then initially ran away, but turned around and ran towards the officers. Several police officers then fired shots. Two passers-by in the pedestrian zone were injured by bullets during the incident. One was shot in the buttocks, the other was grazed in the chest.
The 30-year-old himself is said to have been hit six times: in the hands, groin, stomach and thigh. His condition is said to be stable.
Given the context, here are two sentences that contain the given words:
The incident in Gummersbach was a reminder of the dangers faced by police officers in dealing with individuals known for crime. Later in Parliament, calls for stricter laws and better support for law enforcement were made.
Source: www.dpa.com
