Investigators say U.S. man shot in courthouse threatened deputies with knife

A man who was shot and killed at a county courthouse had threatened sheriff's deputies with a knife, authorities said.

Photo: Investigators say U.S. man shot in courthouse threatened deputies with knife

Court workers on Thursday said John Hevener, 41, who was at the courthouse Wednesday for a domestic violence hearing, was shocked with a Taser gun before three deputies shot at him.

"He did threaten the deputies and they were forced to use deadly force," said Bernalillo County Sheriff's Lt. Scott Baird.

Hevener died on the way to the hospital, he said. No one else was hurt.

Court officials said Hevener, of Albuquerque, was urging a woman who filed for a restraining order against him to dismiss the case.

At one point, court officials said Hevener became angry and ran. Staffers ran after him and alerted security. He was brought back and the situation became more heated, reports AP.

Three deputies Sgt. Tim Lopez and deputies Carl Ofner and Jeff House fired on Hevener. Investigators have not said how many times Hevener was hit or who fired the shots that hit him.

Baird said the deputies involved will be placed on standard administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.

Undersheriff Sal Baragiola also said investigators were trying to determine how Hevener managed to get the knife passed security.