The Fairfax County police recently released body camera footage of an incident where an officer shot and killed 33-year-old Sydney Wilson during a mental health welfare check in Reston. The crisis intervention-trained officer, Peter Liu, responded to Wilson’s apartment after concerns were raised about her mental health. Despite Officer Liu’s repeated warnings for Wilson to back up, she continued to advance towards him with a knife, eventually attacking him, leading to the fatal shooting. Wilson had a history of mental health issues and had interacted with police before. Police Chief Kevin Davis commended Officer Liu for his actions, stating that he acted valiantly and exhibited grace under pressure. Officer Liu has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of criminal and administrative investigations. The body camera footage captures the moments leading up to the shooting, including the struggle between Wilson and Officer Liu, resulting in both Wilson’s death and injuries to the officer. The incident highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with individuals experiencing mental health crises and the need for proper training and resources. The community is awaiting the results of the investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding Wilson’s tragic death.
Source
Photo credit www.fox5dc.com
Video captures fatal shooting of woman by officer during mental health welfare check in Virginia
