April 19th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

A West Virginia sheriff’s office says a deputy has fatally shot a man who pulled a knife while the officer was attempting to arrest him. News outlets report a statement from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department said deputies responded to a home Wednesday where 46-year-old John Stewart Jr. had threatened to stab his sister. Authorities say Stewart refused verbal commands, which led to a confrontation in which deputies used pepper spray. The statement says when a deputy tried to arrest Stewart, he pulled out a knife “causing an immediate threat” and the deputy fired his gun. Stewart died at the scene. His father, John Stewart Sr., told The Dominion Post the deputy escalated the situation unnecessarily. The deputy has been placed on routine administrative leave amid the investigation.