Newly released bodycam footage revealed the moment an officer shot and killed a woman during a welfare check in Reston, Virginia, in September. The Fairfax County Police Department identified the woman as 33-year-old Sydney Wilson.
The footage, released by the department on Monday, Oct. 14, captured the confrontation that took place on Sept. 16.
Officer Peter Liu, a 14-year veteran of the department, who is trained in crisis intervention, had responded to a welfare check requested by a mental health professional.
Point phone camera here
According to Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis, the encounter escalated into what he described as an unprovoked and violent knife attack. The video shows Liu arriving at the apartment complex and knocking on the door.
After several attempts, Wilson eventually opened the door but slammed it shut in his face. A few minutes later, Wilson reopened the door, this time holding a knife.
She slashed officer Liu across the face. Despite repeated commands from the officer for Wilson to back away, she continued to advance, trapping him in a narrow hallway. Liu then fired his weapon, striking Wilson three times. She was pronounced dead later at the hospital.
Officer Liu sustained slash wounds to his face and was treated at a hospital for his injuries.
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Chief Davis defended Liu’s actions, explaining that the officer followed his training by attempting to maintain distance and seek cover. However, David emphasized that Liu was left with no other options. The chief also noted that a mental health co-responder, who typically assists in such situations, was unavailable at the time due to being on another call.
David states that even if help had been present, the situation could still have posed a significant risk to all involved.
As the investigation continued, Liu was placed on restrictive duty and reassigned to another department.
[KARAH RUCKER]
NEWLY RELEASED BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE SHOWS THE MOMENT AN OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED A WOMAN DURING A WELFARE CHECK IN VIRGINIA LAST MONTH.
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN RESTON, AND POLICE SAY THE WOMAN, WHO HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 33-YEAR-OLD SYDNEY WILSON, ATTACKED THE OFFICER WITH A KNIFE.
THE FAIRFAX COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASED THE FOOTAGE ON MONDAY, WHICH CAPTURES THE VIOLENT ENCOUNTER.
IT BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, WHEN OFFICER PETER LIU–WHO HAS SERVED WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR 14 YEARS AND IS TRAINED IN CRISIS INTERVENTION–RESPONDED TO A REQUEST FOR A WELFARE CHECK FROM A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.
THE POLICE CHIEF CALLING WHAT HAPPENED NEXT AN UNPROVOKED AND VIOLENT KNIFE ATTACK.
THE VIDEO SHOWS OFFICER LIU ARRIVING AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. AFTER KNOCKING ON THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES, WILSON EVENTUALLY OPENS IT AND SLAMS IT SHUT IN HIS FACE.
A FEW MINUTES LATER, SHE REOPENS THE DOOR, THIS TIME HOLDING A KNIFE, AND SLASHES THE OFFICER IN THE FACE.
DESPITE OFFICER LIU’S REPEATED COMMANDS FOR WILSON TO BACK AWAY, SHE CONTINUED TO APPROACH HIM, TRAPPING HIM IN A NARROW HALLWAY.
LIU THEN FIRED HIS WEAPON,STRIKING WILSON THREE TIMES.
SHE WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL.
THE OFFICER SUSTAINED SLASHING WOUNDS TO HIS FACE AND WAS TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL.
THE CHIEF DEFENDED OFFICER LIU’S ACTIONS, EXPLAINING THAT HE FOLLOWED HIS TRAINING TO USE DISTANCE AND SEEK COVER BUT WAS LEFT WITHOUT OPTIONS.
THE POLICE CHIEF ALSO NOTED THAT A MENTAL HEALTH CO-RESPONDER, WHO TYPICALLY ASSISTS IN SUCH SITUATIONS, WAS ON ANOTHER CALL AT THE TIME.
HE ADDED THAT EVEN IF ONE HAD BEEN PRESENT, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE STILL BEEN DANGEROUS FOR ALL INVOLVED.
AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, OFFICER LIU HAS BEEN PLACED ON RESTRICTIVE DUTY AND REASSIGNED TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT.
WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ANY UPDATES AS THEY COME IN AND YOU CAN TOO– WHEN YOU DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.
I’M KARAH RUCKER
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