A woman who said she wanted to end her life was pointing a handgun out the doorway of an Orange Lane home and pulling the trigger as officers arrived on a welfare check Wednesday night, authorities said.
The Oak Ridge Police Department responded to the home at 8:01 p.m. Wednesday. They were dispatched to check the welfare of a resident who was reported to be intoxicated and attempting to commit suicide with a handgun.
“Upon arrival, Officers Derek Burchfield and Timothy Buckner observed a 64-year old female subject at the front door of the residence, pointing a handgun out the doorway and pulling the trigger,” the ORPD and City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.
“Officers immediately took cover and ordered her to place the weapon on the ground,” the release said. “After a short verbal exchange, she complied with the officers’ commands and was taken into custody, whereupon she stated that she wanted to end her life.”
The woman, who was not identified, was taken to Methodist Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.
A Ruger semi-automatic pistol was recovered at the scene and seized by officers for safekeeping, the press release said.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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