“I’m going to kill some cops.” Those were the words Evansville Police say the armed suspect shouted just minutes before he tried to ambush an officer who responded to a 911 call at the TGIF’s restaurant at the Eastland Mall.
Police say 38 year old Daniel Wooters, armed with a knife, charged the officer and then stole her squad car and led authorities on a short pursuit until he lost control of the vehicle on the city’s east side and jumped out of the vehicle armed with the knife. Police indicate the 38 year old man then advanced toward officers and three officers discharged their weapons, killing Wooters on the scene.
Vanderburgh County Chief Deputy Coroner Steven Lockyear tells WMSK News the results of the autopsy conducted Wednesday determined Wooters died due to internal bleeding from gunshot wounds to his chest. He says Wooters is listed as homeless but has family in Carbondale, Illinois.
No officers were injured in the incident. The three Evansville Police officers who fired their weapons are on three days paid administrative leave, per policy.
The shooting is still under investigation.
(Source: Evansville Police Dept.)