LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — People who live in District at Hurstbourne, where an officer shot and killed a woman Friday, said they can't come to terms with how police being called to respond to a mental health crisis resulted in a woman being killed by police.Â
Family members confirmed that the 28-year-old woman's first name was Katelyn.
"Killing somebody that has a mental issue going on is just unacceptable," Alexis Colbert said.
Colbert lives in the apartment complex and saw the aftermath of the chaos when she got home Friday night.Â
Another neighbor said when there is a mental health component, she feels like a mental health specialist should be at the scene.
Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Emily McKinley held a new conference after the fatal shooting, saying officers responded to reports of a mental health crisis around 7:45 p.m. Friday.
When officers arrived, they encountered a woman who had locked herself in the bathroom.Â
McKinley said the woman was highly agitated and making suicidal statements.
Usually when someone calls 911 to report a mental health emergency, MetroSafe call takers transfer that call to a diversion team that is more equipped to respond. McKinley said this incident did not qualify for diversion.
"The victim had self-inflicted lacerations and was armed with a piece of glass or edged weapon," McKinley said. "Due to the presence of the weapon and the individual being inside of the location with other people, this situation did not meet the criteria for deflection."
On the LMPD dispatch recording, an officer said the woman's mother was in the apartment with her.
"We're gonna need some less lethal options here probably," an officer said before the situation escalated to a shooting.
McKinley said crews from Anchorage Middletown Fire assisted police as they forced their way into the bathroom.
"Upon the door being breached the female rapidly exited and charged towards officers armed with a large, sharp object," McKinley said.
Officers shot the woman after she charged towards them, McKinley said.Â
On the recording, after officers said one woman had multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, you can hear a someone screaming loudly and weeping.
The two LMPD officers involved were placed on administrative leave and their names will be released within 72 hours of the incident, per department policy.
"Stuff like this just makes it hard for people to trust the police because the first thing they're scared of is that they're going to shoot them," Colbert said.
Colbert said she can't accept the police department's explanation for using lethal force
"Everybody is not a threat to kill regardless of whatever is going on whatever they have in their hand shooting at somebody for that is crazy," Colbert said. "People be really needing help."
Body camera footage for all officer involved shootings will be available within 10 business days of the incident, per LMPD's policy.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or thinking of harming yourself, you can call the 24-hour suicide and crisis hotline at 988.
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