Fairfax Co. Police Release Body Camera Footage of Fatal Shooting Involving Woman

Fairfax County police have released body camera footage from a fatal shooting in Reston, Virginia, that occurred last month, where a woman attacked an officer with a knife before being shot. The incident took place on the morning of September 16 when officers were called to conduct a welfare check on 33-year-old Sydney Wilson at her apartment on Sunrise Valley Drive after a health care worker reported she was in an "agitated state."

The footage shows Officer Peter Liu, a 14-year veteran of the force, arriving at Wilson's apartment and knocking on her door. Wilson initially opens the door briefly before shutting it again. When Liu knocks a second time, Wilson opens the door and immediately begins slashing at him with a knife, striking him in the head. Despite being wounded, Liu orders Wilson to stop, but she continues advancing toward him with the knife.

Backed into a dead-end hallway with nowhere to retreat, Officer Liu is forced to open fire, shooting Wilson three times as she charged at him. Emergency responders arrived on the scene and attempted to administer aid to Wilson, who was later transported to a hospital where she died.

Liu sustained a non-life-threatening injury from the knife attack, and Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis has praised his efforts to de-escalate the situation before resorting to deadly force. The shooting has prompted two investigations: a criminal inquiry into the use of force and an internal review by the department's Internal Affairs Bureau. Officer Liu has been placed on restricted duty while the investigations are ongoing.

Chief Davis emphasized that the officer handled the situation exceptionally well, given the violent nature of the attack, which escalated rapidly.

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