THE HATCHET found at the scene of a fatal shooting in Midway City (OCSD photo).

A hatchet-wielding suspect was fatally shot in Midway City by an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy or deputies in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday.

According to the OCSD, the incident took place in the 14000 block of Van Buren Street. Deputies were dispatched to that location at 4:54 a.m. regarding a report of vehicular vandalism and residential burglary.

They located a suspect holding a hatchet standing on a sidewalk near a house. Deputies say the suspect – identified initially only as an Asian man –advanced toward them, still armed with the weapon and the shooting occurred.

Deputies and Orange County Fire Authority firefighter paramedics rendered aid but the suspect was declared deceased at the scene.

The hatchet was recovered at the scene. The identity of the suspect is being withheld pending official notification and next-of-kin notification by the Orange County Coroner.