Watch: Black Woman Shot by Police Had Disturbing Last Words With 5-Year-Old Son
Korryn Gaines, 23, was fatally shot by Baltimore County Police in Randallstown, Maryland during a standoff lasting several hours. According to police, Gaines was armed with a “long gun" inside the apartment, and threatened them just before the shooting started. Police had come to exercise a bench warrant for Gaines' arrest on a variety of traffic violations including disorderly conduct, according to report. The police press release regarding the incident also read:
The armed woman remained inside with the 5-year-old boy, and a barricade situation began at about 9:40 a.m. and continued throughout the afternoon. The apartment building was evacuated to protect the safety of the other residents.
During the barricade, negotiators made every effort to talk to the woman and encourage her to surrender peacefully. She refused and pointed the long gun at tactical officers several times. There was a clear line of sight from where the officers were staged in the hallway through the open door to where Gaines was positioned inside the apartment.
At about 3 p.m., the woman once again pointed her weapon directly at a tactical officer and said, "If you don't leave, I'm going to kill you." At that point, fearing for the officers' lives, one of the officers fired his weapon. The woman returned fire, firing two shots. None of the officers were struck. The woman was struck multiple times and was deceased at the scene.
The 5-year-old boy was also injured in the shooting, but his injuries are reported to be non-life threatening.
Here's the police department press conference:
According to RT, Gaines had frequently filmed police and it is currently unknown as to whether or not the officers were wearing body cameras during the incident.
Videos posted on Gaines’ Instagram page appear to have been taken during the standoff.
Before her death, Gaines spoke with her 5-year-old son. She asked him if he knew who was outside.
"The police," he replied.
"And what are they trying to do?” she asked him.
His response is truly hearbreaking:
"They’re trying to kill us."
Watch:
