The man shot to death by Warren police while armed with a knife was known to authorities for his past contacts with law enforcement and had several active arrest warrants for domestic violence and assaulting officers, the police department said Tuesday.

Investigators said the 41-year-old Warren resident was shot late Monday night after encountering officers in a field near George Merrelli Drive and Lorna Avenue. He had refused orders to drop the weapon and surrender, police said in a news release.

The police-involved shooting is now under investigation.

“As is standard procedure, four officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation,” police said in the release.

The suspect was identified as Kenneth Anthony Beno by his girlfriend Lana Price, according to Fox 2 News.

A preliminary investigation shows that officers responded to the domestic violence call around 10:15 p.m. at a residence 27000 block of Railroad Street, in the area of 11 Mile Road west of Van Dyke Avenue.

Price told dispatchers that Beno was inside the residence, armed with a knife, possibly hiding under a bed. Earlier, police had described the weapon as an ice pick.

The woman also said he had threatened to harm officers with the knife, according to the release.

As officers arrived at the house, the woman said Beno had fled on foot and was last seen walking by the nearby railroad tracks.

Police eventually found Beno in a field holding the knife. He ignored multiple commands made from them to drop the weapon. They also deployed a Taser, which was ineffective.

“The male suspect still refused to drop the knife as officers approached at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred,” police said.

Beno was transported by Warren firefighters to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, officials said. No officers or other persons at the scene were injured.

According to Warren police, Beno has “several police contacts” for domestic-violence incidents, disorderly conduct, and assaults on police officers. He also had active warrants for his arrest at the time for domestic violence and assaults on law enforcement.

In an interview with Fox 2 News, Price described Beno as a “big bully” who was trying to overpower before the shooting took place. She said he showed up with plans to intimidate and scare her, so she called 911.

Price said he would have tried to attack the officers if they hadn’t shot him.

“They had to do that to keep them safe,” she said. “He would’ve attacked them and hurt them probably.”

The couple had dated off-and-on for the past three years and lived together when he got out of jail, Price told the TV station.