Police: Woman killed by Florida officer in academy exercise

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (AP) — Police in Florida say a woman has been accidentally shot to death by an officer during a citizens academy exercise.

Multiple media outlets report that Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis says Mary Knowlton was taking part in a roleplaying scenario Tuesday when she was “mistakenly struck with a live round.”

Lewis says Knowlton was chosen from about 35 people in the class for a “shoot/don’t shoot” simulation. He says she was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The officer involved has not been identified and is on administrative leave pending a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, Lewis says.

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