Greensboro Officer Shoots Man Charging With Knife During Domestic Call

Greensboro, North Carolina — June 26, 2024

On the morning of June 26, 2024, at approximately 8:28 a.m., officers with the Greensboro Police Department were dispatched to a residence located at 2109 Crestridge Road. The response was prompted by a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance involving 24-year-old Titus Kopp, his grandmother, and her daughter.

The 911 call had come from Kopp’s grandmother, who had managed to leave the house and place the emergency call from outside the residence. According to her report, Kopp had forcibly entered her home, was ransacking the interior, and had made disturbing threats. She informed the dispatcher that Kopp had threatened to kill her, her daughter, and himself. The situation appeared to be escalating rapidly, and officers were sent immediately to the scene to intervene.

Officer Petruzzi was the first to arrive at the location. Upon his arrival, he observed the grandmother sitting on the curb in front of the home. She was visibly distressed and emotional. As he approached, she explained that her grandson had recently been released from jail. She said that upon returning to the home, he had broken in, was behaving erratically, and was armed with a knife. She told the officer that he was threatening to kill himself and possibly others.

When asked whether anyone else was inside the home, the grandmother said her daughter—Kopp’s aunt—was still inside and that she had not been able to get her out safely. Officer Petruzzi continued speaking with the grandmother to gather further details while walking with her up the driveway toward the home. He was attempting to assess the threat level, secure the scene, and ensure the safety of the people inside.

However, before they could reach the front door, the situation escalated without warning. As they made their way up the driveway, Kopp suddenly emerged from the house. He ran out the front door and down the stairs toward Officer Petruzzi while holding a knife. According to police accounts and later confirmed by body-worn camera footage, Kopp raised the knife with the blade pointing outward and made a chilling statement: “I have no intentions of living.”

Officer Petruzzi responded immediately by issuing verbal commands, ordering Kopp to stop and drop the weapon. Despite these commands, Kopp continued running directly at the officer with the knife raised in a threatening manner. Faced with an imminent threat to his life and with no time to de-escalate further, Officer Petruzzi discharged his firearm twice.

Both rounds struck Kopp, who collapsed onto the driveway. Officer Petruzzi quickly moved to his side and began to render medical aid while waiting for emergency medical personnel to arrive. Paramedics responded shortly thereafter and transported Kopp to a nearby hospital. Despite their efforts, Kopp was later pronounced dead due to his injuries.

A silver "Farberware" kitchen knife was recovered at the scene, located near Kopp’s body on the driveway. The weapon was consistent with the description provided by the grandmother and was logged as evidence.

As standard procedure in officer-involved shootings, the Greensboro Police Department launched a full investigation into the incident. Officer Petruzzi was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the inquiry. The investigation includes a review of body camera footage, interviews with witnesses, and forensic analysis.

The department emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability as the investigation proceeds. The tragic events of that morning highlight the unpredictable and often dangerous nature of domestic disturbance calls, particularly when they involve individuals experiencing mental