CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A man was shot and killed by Charleston police early Friday morning after pulling a knife in the CAMC General Hospital emergency room.
Charleston Police Chief Scott Dempsey said Peter Delnardo Lilly, 46, of Charleston, came into the ER at around midnight for treatment and became more and more agitated as he waited in the waiting room with other people. At one point he discharged a fire extinguisher.
Dempsey said Lilly then locked himself in the bathroom and came out holding a knife, he began lunging at others in the waiting room. Police were called, Dempsey said.
Lilly was ordered to drop the knife by a city police officer who arrived on the scene. As police were trying to deescalate the situation, an elevator door opened and Lilly began attacking the CAMC employee in the elevator. Dempsey said police then took down the threat.
“The suspect was struck by gunfire at that time from a CPD officer and it eventually stopped the attack,” Dempsey said. “The suspect fell to the floor of the elevator where other responding officers were able to control the suspect, take him into custody and remove any other innocent victims from the area.”
Dempsey said Lilly was treated for injuries but died a short time later.
The person attacked in the elevator was not seriously injured, Dempsey said.
Dempsey said he believes his officers saved lives.
“This is a very unfortunate situation. Police officers never want to take this action, of course, but we are prepared to protect life and I believe that’s what happened here,” Dempsey said. “Our officers’ actions were quick and deliberate and they knew what they had to do and I believe they saved lives today.”
Dempsey said the information from the investigation will be turned over to the Kanawha County Prosecutor’s Office once completed.
CAMC said its emergency room at General Hospital went on diversion and was locked down for two hours. It’s now back in operation.
“Thank you to the Charleston Police Department for the quick response. CAMC is cooperating fully with law enforcement and further comments about the incident should be directed to the police,” a CAMC statement said.