Police saw man stabbing his parents to death, they ask him to stop but he refused. Guess what they did?

Earlier this month, a man in Utah was killed by police after he stabbed his parents to death in their home.

What Happened:

• The Incident:
  • Erik Bertelsen, 35 years old, was seen in police body camera footage repeatedly stabbing one of his parents in the basement of their home on New Year’s Day.
  • Police arrived and told Bertelsen to drop the knife, but he did not listen.
  • An officer fired two shots, killing Bertelsen. He fell over his parents’ bodies on the ground.
• Victims:
  • Terrie Bertelsen, 63, and Kerry Bertelsen, 67, were found dead at the scene.

How the Police Responded:

• 911 Call:
  • Police were called to the home around 5:20 p.m. after a 911 caller was heard screaming.
  • The caller did not respond to the dispatcher’s questions.
  • Police Deputy Chief Mike Fossmo said the dispatcher heard a lot of noise but couldn’t get more information, so they sent officers to the home.
• Confrontation:
  • When officers arrived, they saw Bertelsen with a knife.
  • Despite being told to drop the knife, Bertelsen continued stabbing.
  • An officer shot him to stop the violence.

Bertelsen’s Background:

Bertelsen had a long criminal history:.. Continue reading here ▶

• He was most recently arrested on December 22, 2024, after running down a local road in his underwear and admitting to using “a lot of meth.”
• Previously convicted of two counts of aggravated assault, serving nine months in the Salt Lake County Jail.
• Threatened to kill people at a party in 2019 at his parents’ home.
• Convicted of kidnapping in 2020 after threatening to kill his then-girlfriend and preventing her from leaving his parents’ house.

Police Statements:

West Valley City Police Chief Colleen Jacobs called the incident a “tragedy.” She said officers had visited the home before. Jacobs also noted the event was very traumatic for the officers involved, but they are coping.

Erik Bertelsen killed his parents and was then shot by police. He had a troubled past with multiple arrests and convictions.

The police arrived after a 911 call with screaming in the background. When they confronted Bertelsen, he refused to drop his knife. An officer used deadly force to stop him, which Chief Jacobs described as a tragic situation for everyone involved.