Officers open fire on man with knife, rush in to give first aid

Baltimore police equipped with bodycams fired several bullets at a man holding a knife, putting him down before rushing toward him to perform CPR.

The Baltimore Police Department released the footage of Friday's shooting that occurred in the city's north in the interest of transparent policing.

In the video released Wednesday several officers surround the suspect as he stands on the footpath in front of shuttered shops, brandishing the blade as police tell him to drop it.

"Hey, I got one life to live," the suspect shouts in the video. "I'm gonna give it. I did my job."

One of the officers yells back: "put your knife down, man... We don't want to do this."

For a few silent seconds, officers and suspect square off and stare each other down before the police open fire, striking the armed man who manages to stay on his feet.

The man continues to flash the blade before he seems to lunge in the direction of one of the police before officers again open fire.

Several shots are fired before the man hits the deck.

Moments later, officers rush to his aid, performing CPR as they call for assistance.

The 48-year-old man remains under police guard in a Baltimore hospital but radio station WBAL reports it is not clear whether he will face charges.

"There's a mental health aspect of this that's obvious to us," Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said.

"One of the questions that I have is how is someone that is suffering from a mental health crisis like that... where along the line outside of law enforcement has that person been failed?"

The two officers involved, Officer Gary Brown and Officer Supreme Jones, have been placed on administrative leave.

Neither have been involved in a shooting before, the radio station reports.

There are now 600 cameras being warn by BPD officers since they were rolled out in June, with Friday's shooting the first time the department has released footage of an incident.

"With transparency comes responsibility and it's our responsibility, we believe...to share it with our community," Comm Davis said.

"We believe it is making us better as an agency. We believe it is improving police-community relations and accountability."

If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14, Mensline 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpline 1800 551 800