Crime & Safety

Costco Shooting: Loudoun Deputy Justified in Shooting Employee, Prosecutor Finds

Employee Mhai Scott was shot and killed by police May 29 at a Sterling Costco after she charged at deputies holding a knife, according to Loudoun authorities.

A Loudoun County sheriff’s deputy was acting in justifiable self defense when he shot a woman holding a knife at a Sterling Costco earlier this year, the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office determined.

The Washington Post reported the attorney’s office findings from a news conference held Wednesday.

Authorities were called to the Costco on May 29 after reports of a woman acting erratically, Patch reported at the time

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Mhai Scott, 38, was working at the store as an employee of Club Demonstration Services - a California-based firm that provides workers that hand out food samples- when she began acting strangely, Loudoun County Sheriff's Deputies said.

Deputies were called to the store about 3 p.m. Wednesday after Scott reached for a 13-inch knife. Deputies tried to subdue her with a taser, LCSO said, but the taser failed, the report showed Wednesday. 

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When she continued to come at authorities, an officer fired, LCSO said.

Five shots were fired at Scott in the store.

The deputy involved in the shooting has been on leave during the investigation, but will be returning to work soon, the Post reports.

Family members and Filipino American organizations are still questioning whether the shooting was justified, the Post reports


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