SEATTLE -- A man who was attacking a woman at a motel was fatally shot early Wednesday by Seattle police officers who said the man came at them with a knife.

Police spokesman Jeff Kappel said the incident began just after 1 a.m. when a 911 dispatcher took a call and heard a man fighting with a woman in the background.

When officers arrived at the Seal's Motel at 12035 Aurora Ave North, they heard a woman screaming 'help me, he's hurting me!'" Kappel said.

Officers tried to open the door, Kappel said, and the man inside sprayed them with some sort of chemical irritant while the woman yelled out that he had a knife.

Kappel said the officers at the scene broke out a window and shot the man with a Taser after he refused to drop the knife.

Police got through the door and the man, who was still struggling, was shot again with a Taser, Kappel said, but he held onto the knife and continued to fight.

"He continues to resist and then advances on the officers while brandishing the knife," Kappel said. "They're giving him multiple commands to drop the knife and he's shot."

Kappel said four or five officers fired at the man, who died at the scene. His name has not been released.

"It was really chaotic," Kappel said. "They did everything they could"

Jerry Flowers was staying two doors down and woke up to find police officers surrounding the neighboring motel room.

"I heard what I'm assuming were the police yelling 'put the knife down, put the knife down!' Flowers said. "And then I heard several gun shots. I took a peek outside the door again and I saw somebody that evidently they had shot."

Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske arrived at the Motel while detectives cordoned off the area to investigate the shooting, but he made no public statement.

The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure any time an officer fires his or her weapon while on duty.