A South Hilo patrol officer shot a 41-year-old man after he ignored commands to drop a knife and “began immediately approaching” the officer in Hilo Tuesday afternoon, the Hawaii Police Department said.

Patrol officers responded to a report of a man on Keawe Street who was cutting himself with a knife with a four-inch blade at about 4 p.m., said Police Chief Paul Ferreira in a statement.

Upon arrival, police saw the man standing on the sidewalk with a knife in his hand. Officers repeatedly ordered him to put the knife down. The man instead began immediately approaching an officer, Ferreira said.

The officer continued giving clear commands to the suspect. Ferreira said the man defied the officer’s commands and the officer discharged his duty firearm, striking the man twice in the leg. “The suspect then fell to the ground in a seated position while still holding onto the knife, swearing at officers at the scene, continuing to ignore commands to drop the knife.”

The police department released footage from an officer’s body-worn camera where officers can be heard ordering the man to drop the knife.

Ferreira said the suspect continued to refuse. Additional police officers arrived and deployed a Taser at the suspect and recovered the knife.

Medics responded and rendered aid. The suspect was taken to Hilo Medical Center with self-inflicted lacerations to both his wrists, resulting in nerve damage.

He also sustained two gunshot wounds to his left leg and a shattered bone to the lower part of his leg.

Ferreira said the suspect underwent surgery for his injuries and is in stable condition. He remains in police custody at the hospital.

Police have opened a first-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree attempted assault against a law enforcement office investigation against the 41-year-old man.

Ferreira noted that police has had numerous contacts with the suspect prior to Tuesday’s incident.

The officer who discharged his firearm is a 14-year veteran of the police department. He has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.