TOLEDO, Ohio — A "knife-wielding suspect" died overnight after Toledo police said a SWAT officer was forced to shoot her in order to save children at a home in central Toledo Wednesday morning.
Police responded to the home on Vance Street near North Detroit Avenue at about 8:15 a.m. and spoke with the suspect's grandmother, who had a stab wound to her face, according to a press release from the Toledo Police Department.
The grandmother said her granddaughter "'just went off' and was talking about demonic things" and that three of her great-grandchildren were still inside the home with the suspect.
The suspect, who was later identified in a press release from the Lucas County Coroner's Office as 26-year-old Erica Allen, was taken to the hospital after the incident.
In a social media post Thursday morning, Toledo police said Allen died of her injuries overnight.
A police officer also sustained minor injuries during the incident, Toledo police told WTOL 11 at the scene. The press release from TPD does not mention any injuries to any officers.
"As officers approached the front door of the house, they attempted to speak to the suspect through the front door," the press release states. "The suspect could then be heard barricading the door. Officers were eventually able to open the door slightly, and could see that the suspect was still armed with a knife before the door was closed again."
Officers then heard children screaming inside the home and again unsuccessfully attempted to force entry. Allen attempted to stab an officer during the second attempt to enter, according to the release.
Police say another officer fired at Allen during the second attempt to enter and the door closed again.
More police and a member of the Critical Incident Negotiator Team arrived at the scene. Officers eventually broke a front window of the home and unsuccessfully deployed a taser, according to the release.
The children ran to the back of the house, followed by Allen. Upon entry, police discovered the children and Allen were in the attic. Further negotiation attempts from police failed and members of the SWAT team arrived, opening the attic door to see all three of the children in the attic.
"The suspect began walking towards the children holding the knife. A SWAT officer shot the suspect causing her to go to the ground. She then stood back up and continued toward the children with the knife. The officer shot the suspect a second time," the release states.
Police then entered the attic, secured the children and took Allen into custody, according to the release.
The officers who fired their weapons will be placed on paid administrative leave per collective bargaining agreements, according to Toledo police.
According to the county coroner's office, the cause of death was ruled multiple gunshot wounds, specifically three total shots to the head, left arm and abdomen.
The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
During a press conference Friday, Toledo police released details of the incident, including 911 audio and bodycam footage from several officers.
Bodycam video showed officers force entry into the home. Officers tried to enter the home, but Allen swung what police said was a knife at one of the officers. Police forced entry and attempted to negotiate with Allen. Allen then took the children into the attic, where police again tried to negotiate.
Police said there was no footage of the officer shooting Allen because the SWAT officers who were dispatched to the scene were training at the time and were not wearing bodycams.
According to TPD Chief Mike Troendle, even after being shot once and handcuffed, Allen latched onto a piece of glass and cut an officer's hand through their gloves. Allen continued to resist, police claimed.
Police said in the press release that the children in the home were physically unharmed and are currently in the custody of their grandmother. The department said it was working with Lucas County Children Services to determine the best course of action for the children.
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