Police officer fires fatal shot

A man was shot and killed by a Springfield police officer November 16, 2009.

Springfield police chief Steve Moody said the officer had no other choice Monday morning when 41-year-old Todd Williamson lunged at the officer with knife during a standoff in a Rebecca Drive garage.

Moody said two officers were involved in the confrontation. One officer fired one shot, hitting Williamson in the chest.

"They asked numerous times for him to drop the knife and at one point he came within striking distance at the officer," Moody said. "One of the officers fired one shot, the individual went down."

Moody said the events unfolded when Williamson got into a fight at another location in Springfield. They believe he forced a woman to drive to the house on Rebecca Drive. Once there, police believe he assaulted the homeowner.

When police arrived, they found him Williamson in the garage.

Both officers involved, one with more than five years on the force, the other with more than ten, are on paid administrative leave.