Police Chief Brett Petty said officers were called to The Jesters Bar at 200 N. Rodney St. at 11:42 p.m. for a report that a person refused to leave and barricaded himself in the bathroom.

Jesters employees were able to get the man to leave early, but staff said he jumped a fence and entered the business through the back door. They said he barricaded himself in the public bathroom. Officers attempted to make contact with the man, but he refused to leave the bathroom, Petty said in a news release.

He held a knife at the officers, and the officers tried to restrain him using “less lethal force” using a Taser, Petty said. In an attempt to detain the man, he stabbed the initial contact officer “resulting in the officers discharging their service weapons and striking the man.”

Petty said officers treated the man, but he died from his injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel. His identity will not be released at this time.

The injured officer was taken to St. Peter by an East Helena police officer. He was treated for his injury and is in stable condition. No other officers were injured during the incident, Petty said. The names of the officers involved will not be released at this time.

Petty said that per department policy, the officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave. He also said the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office has also been asked under Helena Police Department protocol and is conducting an independent investigation to ensure transparency and impartiality.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved and affected by this tragic incident,” Petty said in the press release. “This incident affects our entire community and we want to make sure we are thinking of everyone during this time.”