BASSTERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – Police Commissioner C.G. Walwyn Tuesday confirmed that a man had been shot and killed during a standoff with law enforcement officials after holding his estranged wife and his sister hostage.

Walwyn said that a police officer was injured during the incident that lead to the death of Winston C. Browne.

He said that members of the Special Services Unit (SSC), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and other law enforcement officers responded to a report that Browne had "picked up" his estranged wife and driven away with her.

The Commissioner said that a restraining order had been issued against him in November last year and that while searching the area found the vehicle abandoned.

He said that the lawmen later found Browne and his wife as well as the sister, whose names were not disclosed.

Browne, who was armed with a knife and an ice pick, shouted at the police officers to 'stay back' while holding the knife to his wife's throat, but was later persuaded to release “not before cutting her in the face area with the knife," the Commissioner said.

"At that point, according to our reports he took the family member hostage. He was again coaxed by the police into releasing the family member. He told the Police to kill him. He didn't want to live. They need to kill him."

According to the Commissioner, Browne then released his sister and lunged at a police officer, stabbing him in the right, lower thigh area above the knee.

The Commissioner said as the police fell to the ground, Browne again lunged at him, forcing the officer to “discharged his service revolver in the direction of the assailant”.

Browne was declared dead at the scene, while the police officer and Browne’s wife were taken to hospital for treatment.

"The police did everything they...could do today to avoid man being killed," Commissioner Walwyn said, noting that the wife's name was not being released as is in keeping with standard police practice in cases of domestic violence.

The Police Commissioner said that the man and his wife were married for 12 years.

"Domestic violence is very serious. We treat very serious in the Royal St. Christopher Police Force. The police did everything they...this didn't have to happen today. The attacker created the situation. He chose today to die by attacking the police. The police are not going to stand by and be injured with machetes, knives, guns or anything and not respond,” the Commissioner added.