LONGVIEW, Wash. — The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office and the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team (LCMCT) said Tuesday in a press release that a 29-year-old woman had been shot and killed by an officer at a Longview home early Monday morning.
The woman has been identified as Katelyn Rose Smith of Longview, according to police.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office said that on Monday, around 5 a.m., officers from the Longview Police Department responded to a call from a man, who said a woman was attempting to commit suicide and had assaulted him. When officers responded to the house at Columbia Heights Road near Parkview Drive, they extricated the man from the house.
According to the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office and police body camera video, the woman had a gun, and shots had been fired. Witnesses told Longview Police Department investigators that they saw the woman exit the house, holding a firearm, which she pointed at officers.
The Longview Police officers then shot and killed the woman, said the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office. Though first aid was administered, she did not survive her in injuries.
The officers will be placed on critical incident leave, as per protocol, said the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office.
In a news release Monday, Longview police had said no officers were injured but did not report if anyone else was shot or hurt. KGW's Thomas Shults had reported from the scene that at least one person died.
Neighbors told Shults they were surprised something like this happened in their community.
"I just do not understand what’s going on in this town because I feel that over the years, it definitely has changed," said Myrna Clark, a neighbor.
Some neighbors said they were awoken by gun shots. They said a man and his son lived in the home where the shooting occurred.
"The lady that lived there, right next door to them, said they were wonderful people," Clark said.
The shooting incident has been turned over to the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team for investigation, Longview police said Monday.
Resources
Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
- Call or text 988
- Chat at 988lifeline.org
Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.
Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org.
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is made available.
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