20대 한인 남성이 약물에 취해 경찰에 도끼를 휘두르며 반항하다가 대응 사격에 부상을 입고 체포됐다. 텍사스 칼리지스테이션 경찰(CSPD)은 4일 앤드류 성훈 최(26·Andrew Sunghun Choi·한국명 최성훈)를 공무집행방해 및 경관 공격혐의 등으로 체포해 구금했다고 밝혔다.

경찰에 따르면 지난달 19일 환각 증세에 빠진 남성이 난동을 피우고 있다는 911 신고를 받고 출동해 집 안에서 도끼를 들고 공격적인 행동을 하는 최씨와 대치극이 벌어졌다. 4년 경력의 애드리안 잭슨 경관은 최씨를 향해 도끼를 내려놓으라고 몇 차례 소리쳤지만, 최씨는 오히려 경찰에게 달려들며 도끼를 던져 다리 부분에 부상을 입혔다.

잭슨 경관은 즉시 대응 사격으로 실탄 2발을 발사했고, 총에 맞은 최씨는 소방국 구급대의 응급처치를 받은 뒤 인근 병원으로 후송됐다. 병원에서 치료를 마친 최씨는 이날 10만달러의 보석금이 책정된 채 브라조스 카운티 교도소로 이송됐다.

Andrew Sunghun Choi was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged with aggravated assault on a public servant. The officer who shot Choi twice, four-year CSPD veteran Adrian Jackson, was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation in keeping with department policy for officer-involved shootings.

On the morning of Sept. 19, a 911 call came in stating Choi was hallucinating and acting violently in a house in the 5100 block of Bellerive Bend Drive.

When Officer Jackson arrived on the scene, the suspect approached him armed with an axe, according to CSPD. Jackson backed away from Choi and told him to drop the hatchet, but the man started charging toward the officer.

CSPD Chief Billy Couch said in a press conference that day that “the officer was forced to engage,” and Jackson shot the man twice in the upper torso. At the same time, Choi threw the axe and hit the officer in the lower leg.

The suspect was taken to a local hospital. Officer Jackson was treated and released that same day from the hospital.

Choi was booked into the Brazos County Jail on a $100,000 bond, according to court records.