Officials identified a woman who was shot and killed by an officer after she allegedly pointed a gun at police and EMTs in Montgomery County on Sunday.
At 5:06 p.m. the Upper Moreland Township Police and EMTs responded to a call regarding a woman who was waving a gun outside of her home on the 100 block of Evans Avenue in Willow Grove, investigators said.
Investigators said the woman, later identified as 69-year-old Mary Meister, pointed a gun at EMTs, was told by police to drop the gun and did not comply.
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Instead, Meister allegedly pointed her gun at police.
Witnesses told NBC10 about 10 to 20 officers responded.
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“I could hear the lady, the woman who was sitting on the porch,” a witness, who did not want to be identified, told NBC10. “The officers were saying, ‘Please put your gun down.’”
The witness said Meister was talking on her phone while pointing the gun.
“She was shouting. She was yelling, talking loudly,” the witness said. “I think she said, ‘I’m talking to my daughter.’ The officer said, ‘We can talk to your family member. Can you give us the phone?’ And then I believe she fired four shots on the officers and then they returned fire.”
Investigators said an officer opened fire, shooting Meister.
Mike Zajac, another neighbor, told NBC10 he heard the shooting.
“We heard like one gunshot and I think like five others and quick succession like right after that,” Zajac said. “After that happened, I kind of heard some sirens.”
Meister was immediately transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
Since this is an officer-involved shooting, it is being investigated by the Montgomery County Detectives.
Law enforcement authorities have not released the identities of the officers involved.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information should call Montgomery County Detectives at 610-278-3368.
NBC10 learned Monday that Meister was a member of Upper Moreland Township’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Council.
This is a developing story; it will be updated as more information becomes available.
