LYNNWOOD, Wash. -- A man was shot dead by a Lynnwood police officer in the middle of Highway 99 Monday morning after he allegedly came toward officers with a knife, police said.

Officers initially responded to the 19200 block of Highway 99 just before 10 a.m. after receiving a 911 call about a man acting agitated and hostile inside a store.

The agitated man later exited the store as three Lynnwood police officers arrived. As the man spotted the officers, he ran out onto Highway 99 as officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, according to police.

Witnesses watched as the man bolted from the store and zigzagged multiple times across Highway 99. One of those witnesses was across the street cleaning his car when the he saw the man dart into traffic.

"The cops were telling him to put it down, and he didn't listen," said Alex, who didn't want to give his last name. "He tried to cross the street and rush towards the cops, and the cops shot him like eight times."

Aaron Snell, spokesperson for the police task force investigating the shooting, said the man showed a knife and advanced on officers.

"He did not stop and multiple shots were fired on the male," Snell said.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say a blade was recovered from the man.

Steven Long had a front row seat in his car as the confrontation went down.

"It's just hard to see all those shots and everyone hit him and he kept trying to get up and they didn't stop," he said. "They just didn't stop."

The ordeal began when the man went into Western Carpet Center and asked to use the bathroom.

"I saw trouble immediately," said employee Dave Schultz, adding the man accused the carpet workers of wanting to kill him and his parents. Schultz said then one word really got his attention.

"I heard the word 'ISIS' mentioned as I was walking there," Schultz said. "I asked him to leave and use a restroom down the street at a public place."



Schultz then placed the call to 911.

"(The man) definitely had a different demeanor about him," said employee Evan Wickham.

We asked Snell why so many shots were fired, and he replied that what, why and how the shooting happened is part of the investigation. Snell says generally speaking, in critical situations, they don't shoot to maim or wound; it's unfortunately a lethal encounter.

The officer who fired the shots is a three-year veteran of the department and has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, police said.

The highway was closed between 188th Street SW and 196th Street SW for several hours for the investigation but reopened just after 4:30 p.m.