Police responded to a disturbance call at a Wal-Mart where a developmentally disabled woman (shopping with chaperones) had allegedly "armed herself with a hatchet in the sporting goods department" and refused police commands to drop the weapon. Instead, she allegedly lunged toward an officer and was shot twice, dying later at nearby hospital.
Victim's Name: Melissa Abbott
Agency Responsible: Lake Hallie Police Department
Gender: Female
Age: 25
Race: White
Date of Death: April 8, 2016
County: Chippewa
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Justified
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Yes
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: hatchet
Threat Level: other
Fleeing: Not fleeing
Body Camera: No
Washington Post Database ID: 1446
Geography: Rural