RICHMOND, Va. — A Richmond police officer fatally shot a woman at the Belt Atlantic apartment complex Thursday evening during a response to a shooting call, according to Police Chief Rick Edwards.
Officers received a call for a shooting in progress at the South Richmond complex at 6:47 p.m. As officers arrived on scene, they heard additional gunshots and were directed by bystanders to a person upstairs in the apartment building, police said.
While climbing the stairwell, Edwards said officers heard four gunshots. He said one officer then confronted a woman holding a gun.
An officer ordered her to drop her weapon, before shooting her.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Friday, police identified her as 31-year-old Jazmin Wooten-Mitchell.
Watch: Police Chief Rick Edwards gives press briefing on officer shooting
According to Crime Insider sources, Wooten-Mitchell was a mother of two who had recently lost the father of one of her children.
Sources say she made a post on social media prior to the incident indicating she was in crisis due to her grief.
The woman's children were not home at the time, and no one else was injured, Edwards said.
"This is a tragic day," Edwards said at a Thursday night press conference. "A person lost their lives and an officer had to do something that none of us joined this police department to do, which is take another person's life. So it's a sad day all around."
The officer who discharged the firearm has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a criminal investigation.
Richmond Police Department chaplain Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Andrews also addressed the situation, emphasizing the department's support resources.
"Police do what they do. We are here to support spiritually as well as clinically," Andrews said. "You've seen me. I've been pulling persons we've been talking, we've been de-escalating, and I think all of those skills are necessary, but also there's a trust factor."
Edwards said investigators are reviewing witness accounts, camera footage, and body camera footage.
As required for fatal officer-involved shootings, body camera video from this incident will be released within the next two weeks.
The Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney will determine whether the officer broke the law. If the officer is cleared of wrongdoing, an internal investigation will follow to determine if any policies were violated.
This is the second officer-involved shooting in Richmond this year. Both incidents occurred in the 2nd Precinct.
Anyone with information is asked to call Major Crimes Detective Crewell at 804-646-5324 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000. .
This is a developing story and we are working to learn more. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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