Warminster to Pay $650K to Family of Woman Shot by Police

Warminster Township will pay $650,000 to the family of Marie Zienkewicz, an 89-year-old woman who died after being accidentally shot by police in 2013, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The township and the family have reached an agreement that absolves the township and its police for any blame in Zienkewicz’s death, the Inquirer said.

Zienkewicz opened her door to help her neighbor during a shootout between police and Andrew Cairns in February 2013 when she was hit by a bullet from a police rifle.

The woman Zienkewicz was trying to help, Deborah Silva, was the girlfriend of Cairns. Officials said Cairns fired at least 19 rounds at officers who were responding to a call from Silva to their apartment at the Jefferson on the Creek complex.

Authorities say police believed it was Cairns emerging from the apartment when Zienkewicz opened her door.

No criminal charges were filed against the officer who fired the shot.