“NEW YORK—Police officers shot and killed a 65-year-old woman after they said she stabbed her neighbour at least eight times in an apparent dispute over the woman’s cat, and then refused their orders to drop her knife.
The cat, Dickie, also suffered a serious stab wound to the eye in the attack Thursday at an apartment on Staten Island. Police spokesman Paul Browne said officers responded to a report of an assault in progress at about 8:15 a.m. When officers arrived, a handyman said he saw Stephanie Lindboe grabbing neighbour Linda Padula by her hair and repeatedly stabbing her in the head, neck and shoulder with a kitchen knife.
The officers found Padula, 59, bleeding profusely and pleading for help just inside the door of her apartment. As one of the officers went to her aid, Lindboe flung open the door of the apartment across the hall and brandished the knife over her head.
Police ordered the woman to drop the knife. She refused and came at one of the officers. He fired two shots, one of which hit her in the chest. Lindboe was pronounced dead in hospital; Padula was in serious condition with eight stab wounds.
Neighbours told police the argument may have been sparked because the cat often defecated in the hallway. The cat was being treated at an animal hospital.”
Another Reason Why Owning a Cat is Dangerous
(Visited 52 times, 1 visits today)
Although I wouldn’t suppport the idea of shoot first ask questions later, I might err on the side of the police here. Although a 65 year old woman may not have the upper body strength to inflict a great deal of dammage, a person running at you with a knife clutched in both hands raised above their head regardless of age could kill you. Also it sounds like she burst out of the door the officer may not have had much time to identify the age and physical capacity of the woman.
You know those New Yorkers. They are extra crazy. On a serious note, you are absolutely right.
The obvious question here is, why did the police have to shoot her? Surely police officers can disarm a 65 year old woman with a knife without having to kill her!
Bill,
Well, you know how I feel about cats. 😉
Your cat crapped in the hall I kill you?
Hmm… odd logic there?
Oh well as a former NYC resident pointed out this is New York. I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore Toto.