Officer Justified In Fatal Shooting Of Man With Sword: DA

NORRISTOWN, PA – The fatal shooting of a sword-wielding man in Upper Perk in early February was a lawful use of force, officials have determined.

On Feb. 9 just before 8 p.m., Upper Perk police responded to a call about Trey Bartholomew, 27, who had left the house armed with a sword and threatening to kill anyone who came up to him, according to police. An officer spotted the suspect in Long Alley.

According to police, the officer saw Bartholomew holding a large sword in his right hand, with the blade of the sword pointed at the officer.

After a verbal exchange, the officer told Bartholomew to put the sword down. Bartholomew refused and ran toward the officer, police said.

The officer fired three shots, striking Bartholomew twice. He was pronounced dead by EMS personnel when they arrived on scene.

According to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, a 23-inch sword was recovered from the scene. Home surveillance vide and audio showed there was a five-second period between when the officer told Bartholomew to drop the sword and when the three shots were fired.

On Feb. 10, an autopsy showed Bartholomew died of gunshot wounds to the upper left chest and upper left arm.

"The dispatch reports police received were that the man left his house to kill anybody he encountered, and when he encountered a police officer, the evidence is that he tried to do just that," Steele said in a prepared statement. "Our investigation determined the facts of this case supported the use of deadly force."