Local native is killed by police in Virginia

5/10/2008

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - A former Lucas County man was shot and killed by a Portsmouth police officer Thursday night after lunging at the officer with a knife, authorities said.

Christopher W. Bacome, 29, formerly of 5243 Patriot Drive in Washington Township, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police arrived at the Westwind Apartments about 7 p.m. soon after an out-of-state relative called them to report fears that Mr. Bacome was about to kill himself, said Ann Hope, a spokesman for the Portsmouth Police Department in southeastern Virginia.

Upon arrival, officers learned from a witness that Mr. Bacome had locked himself in the bathroom and that there was blood on the bathroom floor. When officers tried to get inside, Mr. Bacome lunged at them with a knife, Ms. Hope said.

When Mr. Bacome did not comply with orders to drop the knife, an officer shot him, she said.

It was undecided as of yesterday afternoon whether the officer who shot Mr. Bacome would be placed on administrative leave, she said. The officer's name has not been released by police.

Mr. Bacome was raised in Maumee by his late grandmother, Patricia A. (Poling) Bullock, according to her January, 2005, obituary published in The Blade.

In 2002, he married Stacy L. Wells, according to Ohio marriage records.

He owns the home on Patriot Drive, but was listed in the 2005 obituary as a resident of Norfolk. Attempts to reach Mr. Bacome's family were unsuccessful.