DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – A Broward County deputy opened fire and killed a woman in a Walgreens parking lot Monday night after she advanced on him while ignoring commands to drop a knife, agency officials said Tuesday.
Authorities said it happened outside the drugstore chain’s location at 1005 S. Federal Highway in Deerfield Beach after BSO received multiple 911 calls about an armed, suspicious person.
Investigators said the woman was carrying two roughly 18-inch knives.
“As a BSO deputy approached the woman, she moved toward him while swinging the knife overhead in an aggressive manner. The deputy attempted to de-escalate the situation and have her drop all of her weapons,” a BSO news release states. “She refused to comply with his verbal commands and continued to advance toward the deputy while armed with one of the knives, prompting him to discharge his firearm striking her.”
Authorities have not released the 60-year-old woman’s name pending notification of her family. They also haven’t released the deputy’s name.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now investigating the shooting, per standard procedure.