Fairfax County police have released body camera footage showing the fatal shooting of a Black woman in Reston, Virginia, last month.
The incident occurred on the morning of Sept. 16, when 33-year-old Sydney Wilson was shot after attacking an officer with a knife.
Police responded to Wilson’s apartment on Sunrise Valley Drive after a healthcare worker expressed concern over her mental state.
The bodycam video shows Officer Peter Liu, a 14-year police veteran, knocking on her door. Wilson initially opened the door but quickly closed it.
When Officer Liu knocked again, Wilson opened the door and suddenly attacked him, swinging a knife and cutting his face.
Despite Officer Liu’s attempts to de-escalate the situation, Wilson continued to advance on him, forcing him into a hallway.
Fearing for his safety, Officer Liu fired three shots, fatally wounding Wilson.
She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she later died.
Officer Liu, who sustained a non-life-threatening head injury, is currently on limited duty while the Fairfax County Police Department and the Internal Affairs Bureau conduct investigations into the incident.
Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis praised Officer Liu’s handling of the situation, stating that he made every effort to calm things down before resorting to the use of deadly force.
