Man wielding sword killed by police

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - A New York man wreaked havoc on two Mississippi city's roadways. Authorities say he attacked a police officer with a martial arts sword, and ran over another with his car.

It started in Gautier, when a woman called police, saying a man side-swiped her car. Police say 55-year-old Grady Wells then drove over the Pascagoula River Bridge, into Pascagoula.

That's where police tried to stop him for the first time. An officer went up to Grady's white Mercedes, at the intersection of Live Oak Avenue and Pascagoula Street.

Authorities say Grady jumped out of the car and attacked the officer with a martial arts sword. The officer backed off, and Grady got back into the car and took off.

Wells then slammed his car into a motorcycle patrolman, injuring him and damaging the motorcycle. When he tried to run the officer over again, other officers fired three shots to try to disable the Mercedes.

The car continued down Live Oak Avenue, hitting several other cars, and another patrol car. That's when Wells lost control of the car, and it hit a power pole.

Officials say Wells got out of the car once more, swinging the sword and trying to attack officers again.

Chris Carter was working at Byrd’s Automotive when he heard the car hit the pole.

"I was inside, and I actually heard the police coming down the street and heard an impact, which was right down the road from us here. And, of course, I came out and as I come out, three shots were fired and a man falls on the ground, kind of a scary situation," Carter said.

Wells was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect's cousin, Darrell Wells, said the family is in disbelief. He said that Grady had always been an upstanding citizen. He was a retired U.S. Army officer and had worked for the postal service. He thinks that a lot of recent stress must have been too much for him to take.

Darrell said Wells had moved to New York, but had come home to attend a cousin's funeral on Saturday. While attending that funeral, he found out that his father had died.

The Wells family is just looking for answers.

"Just trying to find some understanding, but he wasn't that type of guy. That's the reason we're so lost. It wasn't his nature. He was raised by a father who was a law officer," Darrell said in disbelief.

The police officers involved in the shooting are not being identified at this time.

The motorcycle officer that was struck was taken to Singing River Hospital, where he was treated and released.