Woman killed while carring fake gun

A Virginia woman was shot and killed by two Norfolk police officers Saturday after she gestured a fake gun at them, authorities said.

The officers spotted India M. Beaty, 25, arguing with
a man in a strip mall parking lot around 1:20 a.m., according to WVEC. Beaty then pulled out what looked like a handgun and threatened the man, who was unarmed, police said.

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Norfolk police officers, who were staking out a nearby area, immediately got out of their van, identified themselves as police and gave Beaty “verbal commands” to drop the gun, according a police statement.

Beaty then made “a threatening motion” with the gun, and two officers fired at her, police said. She died after the officers gave her first aid on the scene, police said.

Only after the fatal confrontation did police realize the apparent weapon was a non-firing replica.

The officers who fired have not been identified and are on administrative duty while the shooting is investigated. The department said the officers are detectives and were not equipped with body cameras.

It’s unclear how many officers altogether were at the scene, but police said Beaty was not tied to the initial stakeout. Police have not stated where she obtained the fake gun or why she was carrying it.