Mentally ill girl shot dead by Texas police
Dramatic CCTV footage has shown the moment a mentally ill 17-year-old girl was shot dead by police after she lunged at officers with a butcher's knife.
Kristiana Coignard was killed in the lobby of Longview Police Station in Texas on Wednesday after a Taser failed to stop her.
The shooting has come in for criticism amid increased scrutiny in the United States surrounding law enforcement's use of deadly force.
The footage then shows Officer Derr struggling with the girl and trying to subdue her and at one point, the officer throws her to the ground.
As she lies on the floor, Officer Derr can be seen kneeling and holding her down, before he suddenly gets up and steps back.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHY9oY3A1gY
It is thought he broke away when he realised that Coignard was reaching for a butcher's knife she had hidden in her waistband.
Officers Gene Duffie and Grace Bagley then arrive on the scene as Coignard is seen charging at Derr.
Officer Duffie then fires his Taser before Officers Derr and Bagley quickly followed with gunshots.
Further details of the shooting emerged following statements from Longview Police Chief Don Dingler and spokeswoman Kristie Brian.
Chief Dingler said the officers were justified in shooting the girl.
He said: 'All the patrol officers carry Tasers, plus expandable batons.
'I think you'll see from the video that the time was a factor. There was no time for the officers to use other means.'
All three officers are on paid administrative leave while the Texas Rangers investigate the shooting.
The girl's family has said she had mental health problems and have questioned why police had to shoot her.
She had been living with her aunt, Heather Robertson, before her death.
Ms Robertson said her niece had been battling mental illness, including bipolar disorder and depression, and had been hospitalized twice after attempting suicide, Think Progress reported.
She said Coignard 'was only violent with herself' and has questioned the events in the police station.
'I think it was a cry for help. I think they could have done something.'
'They are grown men. I think there is something they are not telling us.'
source: CCTV from moment Texas police shot dead Kristiana Coignard revealed | Daily Mail Online
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Where are the Riots!! Where is the "White Lives Matter??" Let's go burn down a black neighborhood.. :lol:
Dramatic CCTV footage has shown the moment a mentally ill 17-year-old girl was shot dead by police after she lunged at officers with a butcher's knife.
Kristiana Coignard was killed in the lobby of Longview Police Station in Texas on Wednesday after a Taser failed to stop her.
The shooting has come in for criticism amid increased scrutiny in the United States surrounding law enforcement's use of deadly force.
The footage then shows Officer Derr struggling with the girl and trying to subdue her and at one point, the officer throws her to the ground.
As she lies on the floor, Officer Derr can be seen kneeling and holding her down, before he suddenly gets up and steps back.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHY9oY3A1gY
It is thought he broke away when he realised that Coignard was reaching for a butcher's knife she had hidden in her waistband.
Officers Gene Duffie and Grace Bagley then arrive on the scene as Coignard is seen charging at Derr.
Officer Duffie then fires his Taser before Officers Derr and Bagley quickly followed with gunshots.
Further details of the shooting emerged following statements from Longview Police Chief Don Dingler and spokeswoman Kristie Brian.
Chief Dingler said the officers were justified in shooting the girl.
He said: 'All the patrol officers carry Tasers, plus expandable batons.
'I think you'll see from the video that the time was a factor. There was no time for the officers to use other means.'
All three officers are on paid administrative leave while the Texas Rangers investigate the shooting.
The girl's family has said she had mental health problems and have questioned why police had to shoot her.
She had been living with her aunt, Heather Robertson, before her death.
Ms Robertson said her niece had been battling mental illness, including bipolar disorder and depression, and had been hospitalized twice after attempting suicide, Think Progress reported.
She said Coignard 'was only violent with herself' and has questioned the events in the police station.
'I think it was a cry for help. I think they could have done something.'
'They are grown men. I think there is something they are not telling us.'
source: CCTV from moment Texas police shot dead Kristiana Coignard revealed | Daily Mail Online
...............................................................
Where are the Riots!! Where is the "White Lives Matter??" Let's go burn down a black neighborhood.. :lol: