Police say man killed by officer was wielding a knife

SEDALIA, Mo. -- A Sedalia police officer is on paid leave after shooting a man to death Saturday during a domestic disturbance call, authorities said.

Officer John Cook was answering a complaint about a man cutting a telephone line when he arrived at a woman's residence and encountered David Morgan.

Police said Morgan was sitting on the front porch armed with a knife. They said Cook ordered him to drop the knife several times, but Morgan refused.

Morgan made a comment about how he was going to die anyway and then lunged at the officer, police said. Cook shot Morgan once in the chest, they said.

Morgan, who was in his late 50s but whose actual age was not known, was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after the shooting.

The Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.

Sedalia police chief John DeGonia said Cook is a veteran officer who has a good track record as far as following procedures.

A neighbor who saw the shooting said he didn't see Morgan with a knife. But police said they recovered a kitchen knife believed to be the one Morgan was wielding.