Police say man shot after stabbing officer dropped Quran during struggle, had visited jihadist websites

The Caon City Police Department says one of its officers shot a man who stabbed him during a scuffle Saturday.

The man who was shot has been identified as Hudson Taylor Clark, 32.

The Officer has been identified as Corporal Andrew Sanders.

Police said that at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Clark went to a business called Victory Defense where he stole a 9 millimeter gun and a holster.

Police said that the store clerk confronted Clark about an hour later and that Clark pulled out a knife and threatened to cut the clerk.

Corporal Sanders contacted Clark about ten minutes later. Police say Clark didn’t say a word. They say he pulled out a knife and stabbed Sanders under his left arm.

Police say that Sanders ordered Clark to stop, and that when he didn’t, Sanders shot Clark a total of five times. Twice in the left arm, once in the right arm, once in the upper abdomen and one grazing wound across his chest.

Both Sanders and Clark were taken to St. Thomas More Hospital for treatment. Clark was later transferred by helicopter to a hospital in Colorado Springs.

Sanders has been released from the hospital and is said to be doing well. He will be on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

At a news conference Monday, police said that Clark dropped a Quran during the confrontation and that his family told them Clark had been making “Islamic statements” and visiting jihadist websites.

The Caon City Police Department says federal authorities have contacted them because they are interested in the comments that Clark has made about the jihadist cause.

Police said Clark had no friends and no job. They described him as a loner. They say his family told them that he was likely mentally disturbed after breaking up with a girlfriend. They said his mother called the sheriff’s office and told them that Clark was gravely disabled and mentally ill.

Clark faces numerous charges, including aggravated robbery, attempted murder of a police officer, assault, menacing, attempted theft, theft and resisting arrest. He is being held on $100,000 bond. He will be in court at 8:40 a.m. on December 24.

This is the second officer-involved shooting in Caon City so far this year.