A man shot by a Gaston County police officer had been stabbing himself with a machete shortly before the police came to his home earlier this month, and he was “advancing” with the machete on officers when he was shot, the Gaston County Police Department said in a statement Wednesday.
Eric Edwin Bianchi, 42, was shot by a police officer Dec. 7 at his home on the 2000 block of Beau Drive in the Stanley area, police said.
The 911 call
In a 911 call made at 12:21 p.m., a woman tells the telecommunicator that Bianchi had intentionally cut himself, and she asked for help.
“My husband had an injury. We need someone to come out,” she said.
“What kind of injury? What happened?” the dispatcher asked.
“An accident with a knife. We need someone soon,” the woman said.
The caller goes on to say that Bianchi intentionally harmed himself and that he was still trying to stab himself as she spoke.
The caller is also heard speaking, presumably, to Bianchi.
“I love you honey. I love you so much, sweetie. I love you so much. Everything is going to be OK. Don’t do it, honey. Everything is going to be OK. You have three beautiful children, and we all love you,” she said.