Wheelchair-bound man shot dead by U.S. police officer

By KHOU.com Staff: USA HOUSTON— A police officer shot and killed a wheelchair-bound man who was allegedly threatening people with an object that turned out to be a pen, according to authorities.

The incident took place in a group home for the mentally ill where patients are placed there for 24-hour supervision after being released from hospitals.

Around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, police responded to the house on Polk near Sidney where they say a man had become irate with an employee who reportedly called 911.

The man, Brian Claunch, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, was swinging an object that was later identified as a silver pen.

Police say that Claunch cornered one of the officers and ignored orders, so the officer’s partner shot and killed him.

"He had a temper. He could fly off once in a while. I don’t want to say he did anything or they did anything," said house manager Juan Garcia.

Claunch is an amputee with one leg and one arm. Source/video