Many Questions Raised in Officer Shooting

There are many questions to be asked during the investigation into an officer-involved shooting that left two Gwinnett County (Geo.) women dead in response to a 911 call for help. Police say Barbara Baker, 75, explained to a dispatcher that her daughter, Penny Schwartz, 51, was suicidal. A female officer arrived and was invited inside by Baker. Shortly after, Schwartz came down the stairs armed with a handgun and pointed it at the officer, who opened fire. Police say it’s not clear how Baker was struck–she may have been trying to shield the officer from her daughter, or her daughter from the officer. Both women were struck several times and died. Read more here. Update: The officer responded to the incident alone, unaware that any suicide threats had been made. The mother knew her daughter wanted police to kill her, but it’s not clear if this information was given to the dispatcher. For sure, that information wasn’t given to the officer. [This incident has similarities to the tragic Pittsburgh PD incident that took the lives of three officers last April.]