Woman shot and killed by Capitol police after chaotic chase from White House

A woman who tried to force her car through a White House security fence Thursday afternoon was shot and killed by police after a 12-block chase past the Capitol, which was locked down for a half-hour, authorities said.

The suspect — a dental hygienist with a history of mental issues, according to sources — had an 18-month old daughter with her who was not hurt, police said.

One Secret Service officer was struck by the woman's car, and a Capitol Police officer was injured when he slammed into a barricade during the pursuit. The unidentified police officer was treated and released Thursday night from MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

All the shots fired came from the officers involved in the pursuit, and the woman — identified as Miriam Carey, 34, of Stamford, Conn. — did not have a gun, law-enforcement sources said.

"She was using the car as a weapon," one source said.

Dramatic video showed officers with guns drawn surrounding the woman's black Infiniti before she suddenly sped away. Several shots could be heard as cops took off after her.

It started at 2:18 p.m. when Carey tried and failed to breach a White House checkpoint, a temporary "outer perimeter" fence at 15th St. and E St. NW, officials said.

As she fled east on Pennsylvania Ave., she struck a Secret Service officer, and a chase ensued.

Witnesses to the Capitol Hill shooting describe what they saw and heard.

Capitol Police caught up to her at Garfield Circle near the Capitol reflecting pool, but she sped off again. An officer in hot pursuit struck a barricade and was hurt, officials said.

The 12-block chase ended at Constitution Ave. and Second St. with Carey mortally wounded, police said. The child was removed from the car by a police officer and taken to the hospital.

The woman's motive was unknown, but investigators said they believe the woman may have been mentally unstable.

"They think she has mental health issues," said Rep. Mike McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, who was briefed by the FBI and Secret Service.

A senior law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the case told NBC News that relatives interviewed by law enforcement officers tell them she suffered from a fall a couple of years ago and began to suffer mental issues.

 

Interesting how it took a whole day for this story to be posted on this forum.

This situation could have been avoided. This country has a big issue of mental health problems, we gonna see more of this type of shit along with gun massacres to the point it will be a everyday occurrence.

 

Her sisters made her seem like she had no mental issues. It is hard to tell.

 

The story tonght states she suffered from post partum depression and had a previous miscarriage.

I heard a story on radio that she believed she heard Pres Obama talking to her in her head.

Obviously this chick had mental issues.

 

If it was that interesting that it took a 'whole day' for this to hit wwbm; why didn't YOU post it?!


I agree, this would have been avoided. Relatives said she suffered from post partum depression and delusions... Solve the stigma against that first,..then we can talk about 'easily prevented'. We really have a long way to go in terms of accepting mental illness. If we can get there, then, maybe, we can stop these things from happening.

 

That is a huge problem indeed. Its a horrible, horrible thing that happened and it should so easily have been prevented if she received help. The problem is several fold, many times, people tend to not recognize they need help in these situations. Combine that with the stigma and peoples tendency to not get involved, as mental conditions are 'uncomfortable' for many. The laws also don't make it easy to force somebody to help if they don't want to, until they prove a danger to themselves and others. This woman would be alive had it not been for the place this went down. I can't be xpress enough sadness for that poor child. What a horrible thing to live through.

 

.......No tire deflation strips, No concussion grenades, Nor tear gas or pepper spray,..... Not even a taser gun for the young mentally ill mother,......No second chance to live at the end of the ordeal.......Even though she never shot back and had no gun, Once one started shooting, it was as though the rest of the capital police officers went into a panic and all started shooting.......In an overkill, the woman’s upper body was riddled with more than 30 shots.....What a horrible execution style death for this troubled woman.........

 

I agree they overreacted.

After the fact people are suggesting she could have had a bomb, but mistaken drivers try to drive up near the Capitol all the time. There were means available to stop this woman's car, like using a squad car to cut her off that didn't require all that shooting.

I never understood why didn't officers shoot out her tires?? Why automatically assume she was a grave threat to Congress that required deadly force in response??

She didn't run over anyone, didn't fire a single bullet.

However I will say this, those guys are trained to respond to a live terrorist threat. A car bomber in the U.S. driving up on Capitol Hill would expect to be met by heavy police response and I would assume that driver would be behaving erratically.
When she refused to exit her car after the first stop and sped away at a high rate of speed, she was in BIG trouble.

Still I don't believe killing her was the only option.

Way overkill.

 

The cops did their job and i dont see anything wrong with that. I am sure people think these cops were magicians to know this was a mentally ill woman with a child in the car In WASHINGTON especially when you are in close proximity with the POTUS, deadly force is necessary when you are told to stop and you dont and you run over cops et al. Sad story but u dont blame the cops here