An Upper Moreland Township police officer has been cleared in the fatal shooting of a 69-year-old woman who pointed a firearm at police. The investigation concluded that the officer’s use of force was lawful. The incident began when emergency personnel responded to a 911 call for a suicidal female armed with a firearm. Despite negotiations, the woman refused to comply and pointed her weapon directly at the officers. The use of deadly force was justified under Pennsylvania law. Dino Ciliberti reported
Upper Moreland Township Police Officer Cleared in Fatal Shooting of 69-Year-Old Woman
After a thorough investigation, authorities have determined that the fatal shooting of a 69-year-old woman by an Upper Moreland Township police officer was a lawful use of force. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele confirmed that the officer involved in the October 8 incident has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The Montgomery County Detective Bureau conducted the investigation, as per the standard procedure for officer-involved shootings in the county.
The incident occurred at 5:06 p.m. on Sunday, October 8, when emergency medical personnel and police responded to a 911 call reporting a suicidal female who was potentially armed with a firearm. As paramedics arrived at the scene in an ambulance, they noticed the woman, later identified as Mary Meister, standing at the front door of the residence, pointing a firearm towards them. The ambulance continued driving, and the EMTs immediately informed the arriving police officers about the situation.
Upon arrival, Upper Moreland police officers found Meister on the front porch, holding a silver handgun. One of the officers initiated negotiations with her, spending over 12 minutes trying to convince her to put down the weapon and engage in a conversation. However, Meister refused to comply with the officer’s requests.
After some time, a Hatboro police officer arrived at the scene with a less-lethal weapon and fired four rubber batons at Meister, hitting her leg once. Meister briefly checked her leg before raising her weapon and pointing it directly at the officers. In response, an Upper Moreland police officer discharged his firearm, which resulted in Meister falling to the ground.
The police immediately provided medical assistance to Meister, and she was subsequently transported to Abington Memorial Hospital. Tragically, she was pronounced dead at 5:48 p.m. An investigation conducted by detectives revealed a silver Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver adjacent to Meister’s body. It was determined that Meister purchased the firearm on August 25. Additionally, a handwritten note was discovered inside her residence, indicating her intention to commit suicide.
District Attorney Steele emphasized that the officer involved in the shooting had engaged in extensive negotiations with Meister, attempting to persuade her to surrender her weapon. Despite these efforts, Meister continuously pointed her firearm directly at the officers, leaving them with no choice but to use deadly force. As a result, no criminal charges have been filed against the officer.
In Pennsylvania, the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers is governed by Section 508 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code. According to this code, an officer is justified in using deadly force when they believe it is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to themselves or another person. Furthermore, deadly force is justified to prevent the escape of an individual who possesses a deadly weapon or indicates a willingness to endanger human life or inflict serious bodily harm.
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