Knife-Wielding Woman Shot By Police In Weymouth

WEYMOUTH (CBS) -- Police shot a woman they say was armed with a knife at the Tammy Brook apartments Sunday.

Officers responded to a King Avenue home around 11:30 a.m. Sunday after a mother reported her daughter was suicidal and had a knife.

Weymouth Police said they arrived to find a "hysterical" 46-year-old woman who ignored the responding officer's orders to drop her knife.

"The officer was forced to back away towards the street and the suspect followed him brandishing the knife while ignoring his orders to drop the knife," according to a statement by the Weymouth Police Department.

The officer then fired his gun, shooting her once in the abdomen.

"I came running out and I seen her, she was lying on the ground, her shirt was ripped open and she had blood right here," a neighbor tells WBZ-TV.

Neighbors like Jacqui Fuller have hard questions.

"I just dont understand why it couldn't be defused," said Fuller. "I'm emotional about it because I don't think she should have gotten shot, but then I'm not in his shoes."

This shooting comes at a delicate time with police nationwide under scrutiny in other fatal shooting incidents. One other neighbor is outraged.

"I would be in jail right now with cuffs I wouldn't be where he probably is which is either home or at the police station getting coddled," said the neighbor who did not want to be identified. "Sure he might feel bad, he should feel bad, it's amazing she didn't get killed."

The woman was taken to South Shore Hospital and is expected to survive.

A relative of the woman tells WBZ-TV she has had mental health problems for years

She has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karyn Regal reports

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• Shooting