An off-duty officer shot and seriously injured a suspect who charged at him with a knife Sunday night at a liquor store in Prince George's County, Maryland, police say.
The officer, who was in uniform, was working as a security guard at University Liquor on New Hampshire Avenue in Langley Park about 6:45 p.m. when a man who was previously banned from the store came inside and began arguing with customers, Prince George's County Interim Chief of Police Hector Velez said.
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The officer asked the man to leave, but the man returned a short time later. When asked to leave again, the man “began walking toward the officer with a knife,” Velez said.
Velez said the officer ordered the man to drop the knife before the man charged the officer. Then, the officer fired his service weapon and struck the suspect in the side, Velez said.
The suspect is in serious condition and stable with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
The officer was not injured, police said.
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The officer has not been issued a body camera, but the incident was captured on surveillance video, Velez said.
The officer will be placed on leave pending review of the shooting.
Velez said he believes the shooting was justified.
Stay with News4 and NBCWashington.com for updates to this developing story.
