1. Machete-wielding man killed by police in Pasco identified
2. Police identify machete-swinging man killed in Pasco incident.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : Pasco police officers fatally shot a 47-year-old man, identified as Salih Beslic, who allegedly charged at them with a machete outside a shopping center on the 3200 block of Court Street on Thursday night.
The incident unfolded around 6:46 p.m. when authorities received reports of Beslic wielding a machete and chasing people around the shopping center. Despite officers’ attempts to de-escalate the situation, Beslic reportedly refused to surrender his weapon and instead charged at the officers. In response, one officer fired their weapon, resulting in Beslic’s death at the scene.
The Franklin County Coroner, Curtis McGary, has scheduled an autopsy for Saturday morning to determine the cause of Beslic’s death. The identity of the officer involved in the shooting has not been disclosed.
In light of the incident, the Regional Special Investigations Unit, comprising officers from Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla counties, has taken over the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
Beslic, a resident of Pasco, had previously lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, according to public records. He was married and had three children. Court records indicate that Beslic had a history of confrontations with law enforcement, particularly related to his mental health issues. In 2014, he pleaded guilty to third-degree assault after threatening an officer with a 10-inch knife. The incident occurred during a suicide attempt following a dispute with his wife.
Furthermore, in September 2020, Beslic was arrested for swinging a sword in a Court Street parking lot. Despite officers’ efforts to persuade him to drop the weapon, he appeared poised to attack, prompting officers to utilize a Taser to subdue him. However, no charges were filed against him in that particular incident.
The tragic outcome of the encounter between Beslic and the police underscores the complexities surrounding mental health crises and law enforcement responses. The community mourns the loss of a life and awaits further details from the ongoing investigation..
– Machete-swinging man killed by police in Pasco identified threats
– Machete-swinging man killed by police in Pasco identified before threats.
