A woman is in stable condition after being shot by a Fairfax County, Virginia, police officer on Monday evening.
The shooting occurred at a group home before 5:30 p.m. in Gosport Lane, near Ravensworth Elementary School, in Springfield.
Police Chief Kevin Davis said that a health care provider called police, describing a woman who was “acting violently, acting erratically, and was threatening to harm herself and the other occupants.”
Two officers responded and as they entered the home, they were approached by a 30-year-old woman with a large knife. Moments later, one of the officers shot the woman in the abdomen. One of the officers began administering first aid.
The woman was taken to the hospital, and Davis said she was in critical condition. Tuesday morning, police said the woman’s condition has stabilized after surgery.
Both officers’ cameras were on at the time of the shooting and will be “key” for the rest of the investigation, Davis said. He said the footage showed that the woman told the officers “I am going to stab you,” refused to drop the knife and advanced forward before they shot her.
“That’s why we have body-worn cameras — so we can be transparent. And we certainly intend to do that,” Davis said.
Davis said the department’s major crimes bureau and internal affairs bureau will continue to investigate.
The officer’s identity has not been released. Davis said he is a veteran officer and he’s been placed on modified duty status.
Davis said officers had been called to the group home more than once before.
Below is a map of where the shooting took place.
WTOP’s Juan Herrera contributed to this story.
