Police Kill Man Who Threatened Them With Swords, Guns

ELKTON, Md. (WJZ) -- Police shot a man after he threatened them with swords and guns.

Police were called to Jason Honaker's apartment Friday evening after he had a confrontation with his neighbor.  Honaker reportedly called police and told them to come over or he would kill his neighbor.

When police arrived, Honaker's girlfriend told them that he was armed with "swords and guns" and was intoxicated.  Honaker was in a back bedroom.  When he came out, he was carrying a sword and what appeared to be a rifle.  Honaker was also wearing another sword and had what appeared to be a handgun tucked into his waistband.

Police asked Honaker to drop the weapons, which he did.  Then he drew the shorter sword and a police officer shot him.

Honaker was taken to Christiana Hospital, where he died.

Investigators and crime scene technicians recovered the two swords, and several other edged-weapons. The guns that appeared to be a rifle and handgun were determined to be an air rifle and a BB pistol that closely resembled a real handgun.  

Honaker's girlfriend, who is more than eight months pregnant, told investigators Honaker began drinking vodka late that afternoon and had consumed a pint. Investigators also learned Honaker had been arrested on December 23, 2010, for assaulting his girlfriend and she had obtained an interim protective order against him. She failed to appear for a hearing on the protective order and the case was dismissed.  

The neighbor in the apartment next to Honaker's told investigators he had gone to Honaker's apartment and asked him to turn down his loud music. Honaker then came to his apartment and told him if he called the police, it would 'take seven officers to take him down.' The neighbor told Honaker he wasn't calling the police, he just wanted him to turn his music down. He described Honaker as 'extremely intoxicated' and said he had to assist him in standing upright when he was talking to him.