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Mary Knowton, a 73-year-old woman was shot and killed by a police officer during a gun demonstration in the southern state of Florida, United States.
The retired septuagenarian-librarian was hit by a live round fired by Lee Coel, 28 during a "shoot/don't shoot" role-playing exercise at an event hosted by the Punta Gorda Police Department for about 35 members of the community.
The victim with her husband | Image: Time.com
According to Police Chief Tom Lewis at a news conference on Wednesday, he said: "We were unaware that any live ammunition was available to the officer. The officer involved is grief stricken. We've got officers assigned to him to make sure he's psychologically stable."
Mary Knowlton moved to Florida after living for years in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. She was married to Gary, her husband of 55 years and had two sons.
One of her sons, Steve Knowlton, said in an interview at his parents' home that, on his mother's behalf, he was forgiving the officer who fired.
The retired septuagenarian-librarian was hit by a live round fired by Lee Coel, 28 during a "shoot/don't shoot" role-playing exercise at an event hosted by the Punta Gorda Police Department for about 35 members of the community.
The victim with her husband | Image: Time.com
According to Police Chief Tom Lewis at a news conference on Wednesday, he said: "We were unaware that any live ammunition was available to the officer. The officer involved is grief stricken. We've got officers assigned to him to make sure he's psychologically stable."
Mary Knowlton moved to Florida after living for years in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. She was married to Gary, her husband of 55 years and had two sons.
One of her sons, Steve Knowlton, said in an interview at his parents' home that, on his mother's behalf, he was forgiving the officer who fired.
