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Woman in Texas killed by police while having a 'mental health crisis'
Omar Elwafaii
North America;United States of America

A woman in the U.S. city of San Antonio, Texas was shot and killed by police while locked inside her home. Three officers involved in the shooting have been arrested and charged with murder.

02:33

Police say they initially responded to reports of a woman cutting wires around an apartment complex. An officer approached the suspect, later identified as Melissa Ann Perez, 46, who refused to speak with them and went back into her apartment and locked the door.

An officer can be seen climbing over a railing onto the porch and trying to open the window to the apartment while Perez reportedly throws a glass candleholder at him, missing him. Perez can be heard several times telling the officer he doesn't have a warrant.

More police showed up and the situation escalated when several officers climbed over the rail and onto her porch. Perez reportedly tried to strike an officer with a hammer, missing him and hitting the window instead. An officer opened fire, missing Perez, but a second volley of shots rang out moments later, striking her twice and killing her.

Officer Eleazar Alejandro, 28; Sgt. Alfred Flores, 45; and Officer Nathaniel Villalobos, 27, were suspended without pay, arrested, and charged with murder less than 24 hours after the shooting took place.

Police Chief William McManus said at a news conference that the officers' actions were not consistent with the force's policies and training and their use of deadly force was not reasonable given the circumstances, adding that Perez seemed to be having a mental health crisis.

The family of the slain woman says they plan to sue the city. 

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