Man Who Allegedly Lunged At Officer With Knife Is Killed

A D.C. police officer fatally shot a 36-year-old man who allegedly lunged at him with a knife yesterday in a Northeast Washington rooming house, authorities said.

Two officers responded to a report of a stabbing about 10:30 a.m. in the 800 block of Seventh Street NE, just north of Union Station, said Assistant Chief Peter Newsham, whose command includes the internal affairs bureau. When they arrived, Newsham said, they found one man with a stab wound to his neck.

He said the officers were then confronted in the house by the stabbing victim's apparent assailant, a man holding a large kitchen knife in one hand and a metal pole in the other. After swinging the pole at the officers, Newsham said, he lunged at them with the blade.

"He made statements to the effect that he wasn't going to be taken alive," Newsham said. He said one of the officers, an eight-year member of the department, fired one shot, killing the man.

Police identified him as Osman A. Abdullahi, 36. No address was given.

An investigation of the incident, including into Abdullahi's mental health, was continuing last night.

The other officer, who has been on the force for more than 20 years, did not fire his weapon, Newsham said. He said the department does not routinely identify officers who are involved in shootings.

The stabbing victim's wound was not considered life-threatening.