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| © AP Photo/Chris O'Meara Punta Gorda Police Dept. Det. J. Davoult takes down crime scene tape outside Public Safety Complex Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016, |
The Florida retiree who was fatally shot during a citizen police academy drill was playing the part of an intruder when she was hit, her son said Wednesday.
Mary Knowlton's son also told NBC News that he forgives the officer who fired the fatal shot that killed his mom at the Punta Gorda Police Department event.
"My mom taught us never to hate," Steve Knowlton said. "I can't harbor hate."
The grieving son spoke out as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE ) opened an investigation into Tuesday's tragic shooting.
Knowlton, 73, was taking part in a "shoot/don't shoot" exercise when she was struck by a live round while almost three dozen other participants looked on, police said.
Citizen police academies like the one Knowlton attended "are common around the state," FDLE spokesman Steve Arthur said. "They're a way of showing the community the various responsibilities of law enforcement."
So are the "shoot/don't shoot" drills, he said. "It gives people a better idea of what an officer has to deal with when confronted with ambiguous situations," said Arthur.
But asked whether it was common to use live ammunition in these kinds of drills, Arthur said, "No, it is not."
Knowlton, a retired librarian from Minnesota and the married mother of two grown sons, had signed up for the course after two recent break-ins in her neighborhood, her son said. She also was trying to show support for police officers after the recent deadly attacks on police in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Adam Knowlton said he was supposed to celebrate his 50th birthday with his parents this weekend and his dad was "hysterical" when he called him with the news that his mother was dead.
Punta Gorda's city manager expressed condolences Wednesday.
"We are shocked by this horrific accident and are grieving deeply over Mary's passing," Howard Kunik said. "We also would like to acknowledge the impact this has had on the other participants who were present during this tragedy."
Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis said the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is under way. He did not identify the cop.(NBC)
Mary Knowlton's son also told NBC News that he forgives the officer who fired the fatal shot that killed his mom at the Punta Gorda Police Department event.
"My mom taught us never to hate," Steve Knowlton said. "I can't harbor hate."
The grieving son spoke out as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE ) opened an investigation into Tuesday's tragic shooting.
Knowlton, 73, was taking part in a "shoot/don't shoot" exercise when she was struck by a live round while almost three dozen other participants looked on, police said.
Citizen police academies like the one Knowlton attended "are common around the state," FDLE spokesman Steve Arthur said. "They're a way of showing the community the various responsibilities of law enforcement."
So are the "shoot/don't shoot" drills, he said. "It gives people a better idea of what an officer has to deal with when confronted with ambiguous situations," said Arthur.
But asked whether it was common to use live ammunition in these kinds of drills, Arthur said, "No, it is not."
Knowlton, a retired librarian from Minnesota and the married mother of two grown sons, had signed up for the course after two recent break-ins in her neighborhood, her son said. She also was trying to show support for police officers after the recent deadly attacks on police in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Adam Knowlton said he was supposed to celebrate his 50th birthday with his parents this weekend and his dad was "hysterical" when he called him with the news that his mother was dead.
Punta Gorda's city manager expressed condolences Wednesday.
"We are shocked by this horrific accident and are grieving deeply over Mary's passing," Howard Kunik said. "We also would like to acknowledge the impact this has had on the other participants who were present during this tragedy."
Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis said the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is under way. He did not identify the cop.(NBC)