HICKORY, N.C. — Police fired at a man who was attempting to stab a K-9 in front of a church in Hickory on Sunday morning.
One teen told Channel 9’s Dave Faherty that he was going to visit his grandmother when he witnessed the altercation unfold. The 18-year-old Jadon Belk said one round even struck his truck.
The incident unfolded in front of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church on Center Street just before the 10 a.m. service.
Greeters stood near the front doors as well as the church security team.
Police said the suspect, Robert Lester, walked towards a patrol car parked nearby with a knife in his hand. Lester then attempted to break the rearview window. Faherty reported visible damage to the window.
[ READ: 1 sent to hospital following officer-involved shooting in Hickory ]
Lester ran away across the front property of the church, police said. A K-9 was deployed. Police said Lester attempted to stab the police dog.
He turned back towards the officers with a knife in his hand after one fell to the ground.
“I saw one officer fall when I stopped, and right as the officer fell, the suspect had turned back around,” Belk said. “I didn’t see him have anything but right as the suspect turned back around, all the police opened fire. And that was literally in line where I was sitting.”
Belk said that is when police began shooting. One round struck Lester in the leg. Another, the hood of Belk’s truck.
“I was just shaking right there,” he said. “Whenever I looked over and seen that guy collapse and hit the ground, it was very scary. I didn’t know what to do in the moment.“
He said he reached out to police about the damage.
Pastor Aryn Williams-Ruebel told Faherty that congregants were arriving at the church as the shooting happened.
“The welcome team heard the gunshots,” she said.
Service was delayed by 15 minutes, she said and church members prayed for those involved in the shooting.
“Not only for the person who was injured but also the police officers and all those involved because that’s never a situation anybody wants to be in,” she said.
Hickory Police said they plan to increase patrols in the area.
The officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave for the duration of the investigation, as is standard procedure any time an officer is involved in a shooting. No details have been released on how many officers fired their weapons.
WATCH: 1 sent to hospital following officer-involved shooting in Hickory
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