Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams say a man contacted police regarding a domestic violence situation involving his wife. He took police to his home, where his wife was. She had moved out and taken out a protection from abuse order against him recently. He was worried he would be arrested for being in violation of that order by being at home with her. He also warned police that she was suffering from mental problems.
Officers were in the driveway when Jackson came out to the front porch carrying a whiskey bottle, a long-stemmed lighter and a knife. Officers say she was stabbing herself in the chest. She then began walking toward the officers.
Police say the officers shouted several commands to her, but she continued to come toward them - asking them to shoot her.
Chief Williams says the officers were backing off, but she was soon within five to seven feet of them. Within a matter of seconds, both officers fired multiple shots at her. She was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
“This is an unfortunate situation that affects Mrs. Jackson’s family, the involved police officers, our department, and community," Chief Williams said in a press release. He described the sequence of events as occurring very quickly. Chief Williams pointed out that Officers are trained to assess and make decisions within seconds in a situation where their safety as well as the safety of the public is a primary concern.
The KBI is now investigating the case. Both officers (one with three years on the force, the other with 5 1/2 years) are on administrative leave during that investigation.
This is the eighth officer-involved shooting this year, four of them were fatal. Chief Williams says it's the most he's seen in 36 years on the job.
