Woman with knives shot, killed after charging at Orlando officers, police say

ORLANDO, Fla. – A woman was shot and killed by police after charging toward them with knives when they were called to an Orlando apartment complex Friday in reference to a suicidal individual, the department said.

Officers responded to the 12000 block of Pioneers Way, near Cortland Nona, around noon, Deputy Chief Chad Ochiuzzo said at a news briefing on Friday.

Ochiuzzo said officers received a 911 call from someone who said “his girlfriend was talking about killing herself and that she had a knife.”

The crisis negotiation team arrived and communicated with her over the phone before she hung up and they called again, according to the deputy chief.

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At one point, Ochiuzzo said the woman exited her apartment with a knife and then walked back in. She then came out again, charging at the officers on the scene with two knives, Ochiuzzo said.

“The two officers then fired at the individual,” the deputy chief said. “The two officers who shot are trained in crisis intervention.”

She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. No officers were injured.

“They didn’t have their tasers in their hands at this time now,” Ochiuzzo said of the officers. “(They) were staged in the hallway awaiting the subject and when she charged them, they fired their weapons. They were doing what they were supposed to do and they were there, everyone had lethal cover.”

The officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Officers ask that people avoid the area, but added there is no immediate danger to the public at this time.

No other information is available at this time. Check back here for updates.

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