Indian-origin man suffering from ‘bipolar disorder’ shot by US police while trying to arrest him in assault case

New Delhi: A 42-year-old Indian-origin man was shot dead by police after trying to arrest him in a serious assault case involving a woman in San Antonio, Texas, news agency PTI reported.

Sachin Kumar Sahu, originally from Uttar Pradesh, was declared dead by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office, which said he died of multiple gunshot wounds during a standoff with police.

The sequence of events that led to the encounter began when police officers responded to a report of an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon at a home in Cheviot Heights. On arrival, they learned that a 51-year-old woman had been deliberately hit by a vehicle, allegedly driven by Sahu, who had fled the scene. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, prompting detectives to issue a felony arrest warrant for Sahu.

A few hours later, neighbors informed the police about Sahu’s return to the area. When the police tried to approach him, Sahu allegedly hit two officers with his BMW SUV. In response, an officer opened fire, seriously injuring Sahu at the scene. One officer was admitted to hospital, while the other was given medical attention at the scene. No other casualties were reported, PTI reported.

San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus said Sahu allegedly struck the woman, identified as his roommate, with his vehicle, resulting in her being left in critical condition. Before the fatal encounter, police had sought to trace and arrest Sahu, who tried to evade arrest by fleeing in his car. Despite attempts by the police to stop him, Sahu managed to escape and hit the officers with his vehicle.

The incident remains under investigation, with police yet to review camera footage to ascertain other details.

Sahu’s ex-wife Leah Goldstein said he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and showed symptoms of schizophrenia. Goldstein described his decade-long struggle with mental illness, including auditory hallucinations and delusions, PTI reported.