http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/02/19/5524914/cmpd-officer-fatally-shot-woman.html#.VOXL4bDF9Vs

The police officer who shot and killed a woman at a northern Charlotte apartment Wednesday night had been involved in shootings in the line of duty twice before, including one in 2012 that left a man dead, police said.

Police say Wednesday’s victim, Janisha Fonville, 20, refused to drop a kitchen knife and lunged at officers before Officer Anthony Holzhauer pulled his service pistol and shot her twice – in the hand and in the shoulder.

Holzhauer was responding to a domestic argument at about 9 p.m. when the confrontation occurred. Fonville, 20, was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly afterward.

At a Thursday news conference, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Chief Rodney Monroe said investigators are not looking to charge Holzhauer with a crime “at this point,” but the case will be turned over to the district attorney for review.

Fonville’s cousin, Ben Harris, said he believes officers could have defused the situation without killing Fonville.

“They could have Tased her. She didn’t weigh but 120 pounds,” Harris said. “Why do they give police Tasers if the first thing they are going to reach for is the gun?”

Holzhauer was armed with a Taser but didn’t pull it, police said. It was unclear Thursday whether other responding officers pulled guns or Tasers.


120 pounds... sure she had a kitchen knife but WTF, why not taze her? How the fuck do you show up at a domestic dispute where no one has been harmed and the perp is sitting on the couch with a knife and the first thing you do is shoot?

I know OKP's will be on that "but she had a knife..." FOH.