More details emerge about South L.A. woman killed in confrontation with police

A woman fatally shot by police after being suspected of shooting at her relatives has been identified, authorities said Thursday.

Brenda Williams, 56, of South Los Angeles, died Wednesday from wounds suffered when she was struck by bullets fired by three officers responding to a “shooting in progress” report, police said.

Family members said Williams was deaf and would not have heard police commands to drop the weapon she was holding, according to a KABC-TV Channel 7 report.

Police were not immediately able to respond to the claim that the woman was deaf. But an investigation of the incident is underway.

According to police, officers who arrived in the neighborhood at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday first interviewed witnesses who claimed Williams “had attempted to shoot her two grandchildren and her adult daughter.” No family members were injured.

The officers drove down the street toward Williams.

“The officers then saw the suspect point her weapon at a neighbor across the street,” according to a police news release. “Three officers fired their weapons at the suspect, striking her multiple times in the upper torso.”

A police spokesman also could not immediately clarify whether officers called out to Williams to drop her weapon or if they fired immediately over concern that a bystander was at risk.

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-- Howard Blume

Photo: Scene outside the home. KTLA News

Comments

[wallypski]

Don't wanna hear about police being sued, 3 shooting in one day= police out of control. This country is getting more like the old soviet union everyday, and with kids hate crimes and people STILL not believing The President's birth certificate. The cops can act like the gustapo and no one gives a damn. If you read the first articles of this story, the cops said she refused to drop her gun, now all of a sudden she pointed it at someone across the street from her... Honesty! oops I think I curse America

[TruBlu]

Oh well... If you pull out a gun, expect to play. If you lose, then so be it. Population control.

[Common sense]

SERIOUSLY...THE ISSUE IS WHETHER SHE WAS DEAF! PEOPLE COME ON! wow...good work LAPD...all the VICTIMS of this DEAF woman's wrath are grateful.

[bettyo]

Not only do our police officers need to speak 57 different languages in this city, now they must know sign language? Our officers can't win.

[Robert]

@wallypski...I guess the fact that in all 3 incidents people were armed with guns and shooting at others means nothing to you. Don't you think that she could have gun pointed at someone else and still refused to drop. The police do not have to wait until the gun is pointed at them if they feel the person will shoot someone else. But I guess if a gun was pointed at you, would you want the police to wait until they take action.

[outsider]

Does everyone in South Central have a disability? Always seems that the family always come back after the fact. Cops should have waited to see the bodies first.

[e double e]

what are you talking about they allways win ... never go to jail .. on piad leave oh that will teachem

[Cheese_Wonton]

If she had a gun leveled at someone I don't see why the cops would be bound to give a verbal warning to anyone. I just don't. If she was about to fire, which is how it appeared, and the reason the police were called in the first place, then they did the right thing by the ones who were about to become victims, her victims. Whether or not she was deaf or not is immaterial.
If you engage in gun play you risk the police killing you. Why does that offend people?

[Dave]

I bet wallypski would be singing a different tune if someone was pointing a gun at him and a cop shot that person.

Bleeding heart liberals bug the crap out of me. THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SHOT HAD GUNS. Normal people don't carry loaded guns around with them and point them at people.

[AmRhyy]

Thank you to these brave officers of the LAPD. When this crazy woman began firing her gun, and her neighbors called for help, they responded, putting themselves in harms way to protect the people of her neighborhood. These officers are the heros that keep us all safe. Thank you.

[someonewhoknows]

someone jumped out a window that lived in the house she was gonna shoot the daughter and her grandkids...now what should have the police done?.....had she killed everyone people would say damn where were the cops.....i know that sometimes they are placed in those unpredictable positions but ask yourself...do i want to make it home to my family?...this is the wild wild west where damn near everyone has access to a gun....and not to mention this has happened before to this family and the same person.....only a matter of time...