Man stabbing, chasing wife outside Chatsworth courthouse killed by deputies, officials say

CHATSWORTH, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man was shot and killed by deputies after officials said he stabbed his estranged wife outside a courthouse in Chatsworth.

Los Angeles police responded to the 9400 block of Penfield Avenue around noon Monday following a report of a woman getting stabbed.

Authorities said a man began stabbing his wife in a car and she got out and tried to run away.

"He's literally chasing her with the knife and I go back in and yell some more and finally the sheriffs come out and they come out with guns drawn," trial attorney and eyewitness Tom Feher recalled. "Tell him to stop and he's about to grab her and he's got his knife up and that's when they actually start shooting him."

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said a deputy and security officer opened fire on the man, killing him.

"She was honestly about to reach for the door handle (of the courthouse) when he was probably 3 or 4 feet behind her and that's when he was shot," eyewitness Chelsea Smith explained.

"The deputies told him to put his knife down, stop, he didn't and they opened fire," Feher said.

Authorities said the woman suffered several stab wounds to her upper body and had several defensive wounds on her arms. The woman was listed in critical, but stable condition.

The courthouse was closed for the remainder of the day due to the incident.