Detroit Police Fatally Shoot Woman After A Waving Gun: Police

DETROIT — Police shot and killed a woman at a Detroit gas station Sunday evening after she waved an airsoft pistol at customers and employees, Detroit Police said.

Detroit police Chief James White told reporters at a news conference that Nakita Williams, 33, of Detroit began brandishing the airsoft pistol toward customers and employees at 6:02 p.m. Sunday at the Sunoco gas station on the 15200 block of East Seven Mile Road.

White said Williams had the airsoft pistol in her hand inside the store, and showed surveillance images that showed people fleeing from the gas station entrance.

Williams then exited the gas station and pointed the pistol at a customer, White said.

“Officers tell the customer not to enter, and what you see in this particular slide is the customer that has his back to Ms. Williams was actually walking toward the store and the officer yells to the customer not to go in,” White said.

After what appeared to be a conversation, officers then fired multiple shots, which struck Williams.

“He’s [officer] having some type of conversation with her,” White said. “We’re still in the process of investigating that.”

The officers immediately began transporting Williams to a nearby hospital, but she died on the way, White said.

White said the woman never fired any shots from her pistol, but said the investigation did reveal that Williams was armed with an airsoft weapon when officers fired shot at her.

An investigation also revealed Williams might have suffered from mental illness, which is one of the factors being investigated, White said.

White said he believes the officers responded appropriately within department policy, but the findings will ultimately be sent to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.