MOSCOW, December 31 (Sputnik) — Police shot and killed Joseph Pacini, a 52 year-old white male, who earlier posted videos with threats to law enforcement, in the US city of Philadelphia as the man allegedly tried to run the officers down with his vehicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, citing local police.
Earlier in the week, the police contacted Pacini over reports of his irrational behaviour, the newspaper said, citing representative of local police Michael Chitwood. Following the conversation, the man uploaded several videos on YouTube, in which he threatened to kill police officers, who he said wanted him "dead or in prison."
According to Chitwood, the police tracked the man, pulled over his car and ordered him to get out, when Pacini suddenly shifted his car into reverse, hitting the side of a police vehicle. Five officers opened fire and killed Pacini.
"He threatened to kill police, threatened to kill FBI agents. The officers were in fear of their lives and did what they had to do," Chitwood said, as quoted by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The newspaper added that the detective who called Pacini by telephone on Monday was listed as an arresting officer in court documents. However, it is unclear whether he was engaged in the fatal shooting.
