Man killed by Belton police identified, allegedly threatened officers with knife

A man shot and killed on Easter Sunday during an arrest by Belton police officers has been identified as Donald P. McCarter.

At least one officer fired and struck McCarter, 38, after he "advanced on officers while brandishing a knife," the Cass County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

The sheriff's office is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting in Belton.

According to the sheriff's office, Belton police officers were called to a home in the 200 block of Spring Street at 7:46 p.m. Sunday. Police said a person there, a neighbor, was refusing to leave the residence. Officers arrived and contacted the people involved but later determined that no further action was necessary, the sheriff's office said.

Belton police were called again to the Spring Street area at around 11:30 p.m. that night. This time, the call was in regard to property damage to vehicle tires.

Officers identified the alleged suspect as McCarter, the same subject from the earlier call on Spring Street. Belton officers went to arrest McCarter at his home on 208 Spring Street, the sheriff's office said.

More officers arrived and made contact with McCarter and a female resident at the home, but when authorities went inside, they found McCarter allegedly armed with a knife.

According to the sheriff's office, Belton officers "gave commands to gain (McCarter's) compliance in surrendering and dropping the knife."

The officers also used "less lethal measures, such as electronic control devices" to try to get McCarter to surrender.

That's when the McCarter allegedly approached officers with the knife and at least one officer fired their weapon.

Residents inside the home were evacuated into a bedroom following the shooting.

Other officers and medical personnel gave medical attention to McCarter, but he died at the scene.

The sheriff's office said video of the shooting was captured by body cameras, but authorities said the videos won't be released "based on the ongoing investigation."

Neighbors told the Fox 4 that the the man who was shot had been threatening people earlier that night with a knife, yelling racial slurs and smelling of alcohol.

"He threatened to kill me and my family," neighbor Alanna Sapenaro told the television station.

Per the Belton Police Department's policies, the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.

Once the investigation is complete, the case is expected to be forwarded to the Cass County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for review.

This story was originally published April 5, 2018 at 11:17 AM with the headline "Man killed by Belton police identified, allegedly threatened officers with knife."