Fairfax Officer Shoots Woman During Wellness Check in Reston
A woman in mental health crisis attacked a police officer with a knife during a wellness check in Virginia
On September 16, a wellness check in Reston, Virginia, ended in tragedy when a Fairfax County police officer fatally shot Sydney Wilson, a 33-year-old woman, during a mental health crisis. The incident, captured on body camera, revealed the tense moments leading up to the denouement, when Wilson attacked the officer with a knife after initially refusing to cooperate.
Officer Peter Liu, trained in crisis intervention and with 14 years of experience on the force, responded to Wilson's apartment in response to concerns expressed by her doctor about her mental state.
In a first attempt at contact, Wilson opened the door but quickly closed it, leaving the officer waiting outside for nearly 10 minutes. Upon reappearing, Wilson was holding a knife and unexpectedly began attacking the officer.
Despite Liu's repeated verbal warnings to back off, Wilson continued to advance toward him. The situation quickly escalated, forcing the officer to retreat down the hallway as he attempted to defend himself.
In the midst of the struggle, Wilson slashed the officer's forehead with the knife, prompting him to fire his weapon three times. Wilson was wounded and, despite first aid efforts at the scene, was pronounced dead at the hospital where she was taken.
Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis praised the officer's actions, describing them as an act of bravery under enormous pressure.
Davis also noted that Officer Liu had given at least eight verbal warnings before making the decision to shoot. Wilson, who was 6'5" and weighed 330 pounds, had a history of mental health issues and had had previous interactions with police.
Following the incident, Officer Liu was placed on administrative leave while a criminal and administrative investigation is conducted to clarify all the details of the case.