Around 10:30 a.m., Michael Ward was stopped in a Volkswagen at a stop sign with two vehicles behind him. He allegedly became angry when one of the cars honked their horn. He allegedly hit the driver's side window of the vehicle behind him with a bat. When the victim got out of his car, police say Ward struck him in the head with the bat. Then, police said, Ward went after the driver of the other vehicle, who was in a gray van. He allegedly smashed the driver's side window on that vehicle as well. When an officer approached Ward, he came at him with the bat. A person who tried to help was also hit in the head with the bat. The officer attempted to use his Taser, but it didn't stop Ward, and he was shot and killed.
Victim's Name: Michael Ward
Agency Responsible: Nassau County Police Department
Gender: Male
Age: 46
Race: Black
Date of Death: March 12, 2018
County: Nassau
Cause of Death: Gunshot, Taser
Official Disposition: Pending investigation/No Known Charges
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: No
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: baseball bat
Threat Level: attack
Fleeing: Not fleeing
Body Camera: No
Washington Post Database ID: 3497
Geography: Suburban