Advertisement Domestic call ends with man shot by police in Washington County State troopers say Steven Ward, 20, charged at them with a weapon in Jefferson Township Share Shares Copy Link Copy

State troopers shot a man who charged at them with a knife when they responded to a domestic disturbance early Wednesday morning in Washington County, police said. Steven Garrett Ward, 20, was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital in critical condition after the incident on Bethel Ridge Road in Jefferson Township. He's facing several charges, including six counts of aggravated assault. Trooper Stefani Lucas said police were called to the house shortly before 12:30 a.m. According to a criminal complaint filed by state police, Ward's stepmother called 9-1-1 after Ward began throwing things and fighting with his family. "Steven is drunk and he doesn't know what he's doing or what's wrong with him," one family member told investigators. Another said Ward "was over there flipping out and that he fell and his arm was in the toilet." Police wrote that Ward's father tried to calm him down and physically restrain him, but ended up with a cut on his head and a bite mark on his chest. Ward allegedly told his family, "I'm going to rush the cops so they kill me." "State police from the Washington barracks arrived at the residence and were confronted by Ward, who charged at the officers with a weapon. Ward failed to comply with verbal commands given by officers to drop the weapon, at which time shots were fired by both officer," Lucas said. Ward was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was listed in critical condition late Wednesday. One family member told police Ward had told them he "had a bad life and nobody cares about him." He'd been living in a camper next to two buildings on his family's property, but was allowed to come inside to shower and eat. The troopers who fired at Ward were not injured. Lucas said both are on administrative duty while the Washington County District Attorney's Office investigates the shooting.