Man Dies After Impaling Himself On Stolen Knife: Cops

PLANT CITY, FL — The Plant City Police Department is investigating the death of a man accused of stealing a knife from a Lowe’s Home Improvement Center and then impaling himself on the blade.

According to the agency, police were called to the 2801 James L. Redman Parkway Lowe’s around 6:40 p.m. May 5 on a non-emergency call. After arriving, officers learned a man had entered the store, picked out a knife and removed it from its packaging. The man then concealed the knife and tried to leave the store without paying, an email from the agency said.

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Lowe’s loss prevention personnel confronted the man, but he “reportedly brandished the knife in a threatening manner towards the employees,” the email said. The man then took off on foot, running toward the Parks Springs apartment complex.

“While fleeing with the knife, it is believed the suspect impaled himself in an unknown manner,” the agency’s email said. After doing so, the man continued to run for a short distance “before collapsing behind a building.”

The man was taken to a local hospital by Plant City Fire Rescue, but was pronounced dead a short time later.

The identity of the man is being withheld pending next of kin notification, police said.

Police say the investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the agency at 813-757-9200.

No further information is available at this time.

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