FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Police have released new details after officers said they were forced to shoot a man who was holding a woman hostage at a Fort Lauderdale home.
The suspect killed Thursday was identified as 29-year-old Javoris Washington.
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According to police, Washington was holding a knife to the victim's throat while a SWAT team and negotiators tried to persuade him to put the weapon down.
Police said Washington refused and officers were forced to fire their weapons.
Neighbors told Local 10 News reporter Andrew Perez that Washington was under the influence of the drug "flakka" when he dragged the woman inside a bedroom and barricaded himself.
"This is obviously a situation where this woman was in great fear for her life," Sgt. Frank Sousa said. "At points where the dialogue was being exchanged, there was elevations in her voice, which obviously led to our officers knowing that this situation was getting to a point that forced them to take action."
Washington's sister told Local 10 that he and the woman were boyfriend and girlfriend.
Washington's family members said they are upset and claim he was unarmed at the time of the incident.
Police said they have been to the home before for domestic violence related incidents.
The investigation is ongoing.
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