Weymouth Police Officer Involved in Shooting Placed on Leave

WEYMOUTH, MA — The Weymouth police officer who shot a 46-year-old woman Sunday has been placed on leave.

Capt. Richard Fuller told the Patriot Ledger that the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave as is the procedure for officers involved in a shooting.

At 11:33 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a report from a mother who said her daughter was trying to kill herself with a knife. When an officer arrived at the King Avenue residence, they were confronted at the front door by what police described as "a hysterical 46-year-old woman with a large knife."

Police say the responding officer was forced to back away towards the street and the suspect followed him with the knife. The woman allegedly ignored orders to drop the knife, with the officer shooting the woman once in the abdomen area. The woman was treated at the scene and transported to South Shore Hospital.

The woman, whose name has not been released, will be charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (a knife). Police say they are monitoring her condition and may not go forward with charges for weeks.

The incident remains under investigation.

Image: Patch file photo