A McNeil man was shot and killed by a Columbia County sheriff’s office deputy after he approached the deputy with a knife late Saturday morning, according to investigators.

Arkansas State Policespokesman Bill Sadler said his agency is handling the investigation in the shooting death of Larry Price, 60, not far from his home just outside the McNeil community.

According to Sadler, Price’s family “had been looking for [him],” and about 10:30 a.m .,a deputy spotted Price and tried to make contact with him.

Sadler said Price “advanced on [the deputy] brandishing a knife,” and the deputy shot him.

Price was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital,where he was pronounced dead.

State police are not identifying the deputy. Officials at the Columbia County sheriff’s office also declined to identify the deputy Sunday and said any identification would happen today.

Business, Pages 14 on 12/24/2012