LAUDERHILL, Fla. — A tragic incident occurred at a condominium complex in South Florida on Friday when a police officer fatally shot a woman who allegedly charged at him wielding a knife.
According to Lauderhill Police Lt. Antonio Gonzalez, the officer was dispatched to the Majestic Gardens complex following a call for assistance. The call was brief, providing only the caller’s first name before abruptly disconnecting. Upon arriving at the scene, the officer encountered a woman brandishing a large knife.
The officer communicated over his radio that he was dealing with a situation involving a knife, and shortly thereafter, he reported that shots had been fired following his decision to discharge his weapon. The woman was subsequently transported to a local hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Gonzalez explained to the media that officers are authorized to use deadly force if they or others are perceived to be in immediate danger. He emphasized, “Any time an officer is confronted and can justifiably determine that his life or others are in imminent danger, then he’s authorized to use deadly force. And that is what occurred today.”
As of now, police have not verified whether the woman who was shot is the same individual who made the call to 911. The identities of both the woman and the officer involved have not yet been released.
The officer, who has served with the Lauderhill Police Department for three years, will be placed on administrative leave while an investigation into the shooting is conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a standard procedure following such incidents.
Authorities are currently interviewing witnesses who observed the confrontation. Some residents reported hearing loud noises but did not see the actual events unfold. “I was just laying down, and I heard a couple of bang sounds,” noted neighbor Ron Baker in an interview. “So when I got up, I kind of settled down for a minute, and then I heard, like, the police sirens coming, so that’s when I knew something was up.”