Three counts of aggravated assault pending against woman; officers on administrative leave
Two Oak Ridge police officers fired four shots at a woman who pointed a pistol at one of them on Saturday night, authorities said.
The woman, who had reportedly threatened to commit suicide, pointed the semi-automatic pistol at Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Leslie Miller after authorities had ordered her to put down the gun, a press release said.
Fearing for her safety, Miller fired one round, while another responding officer, Christopher Carden, fired three shots at the at the woman, Anna King, who fell backwards, the ORPD press release said.
Police responded to the home at 123 Jonathan Lane at about 11:37 p.m. Saturday after King’s boyfriend called police to report that King had threatened to commit suicide. The boyfriend said King had access to several weapons, including a pistol, a rifle, and a shotgun. Besides Miller and Carden, Officer Kenneth Prickett was also dispatched to the home to check King’s welfare, the press release said.
“Upon arrival, officers observed Ms. King on the sidewalk in front of the residence, holding a semi-automatic pistol to her head,” the release said. “Officers ordered Ms. King to place her weapon on the ground; however, she ignored the commands and alternated pointing her weapon at her head and the ground by her side.
“As officers continued to order Ms. King to put down her weapon, she suddenly raised the weapon and pointed it at Officer Miller. Fearing for her safety, Officer Miller fired one round at Ms. King while Officer Carden, who also feared for Officer Miller’s safety, fired three rounds at Ms. King, who fell backwards.
“Ms. King then sat up and held the pistol under her chin while manipulating the slide of the pistol and pulling the trigger.”
The release said Carden deployed his Taser to control King, while Miller and Prickett secured her weapon and handcuffed her.
Though uninjured in the incident, King was transported to Methodist Medical Center for evaluation.
Three counts of aggravated assault are pending against King, the press release said. All officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time, the ORPD said.
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