A Texas cop shot and killed 93-year-old Pearlie Golden at her home just outside of Houston Tuesday night after a 911 call from a man that she was waving a gun around.
KBTX Bryan reports that Officer Stephen Stem responded to the 911 call at 6:30 p.m.
Details of the encounter were originally unclear, with neighbors saying they heard five shots. Golden was clearly wounded however, and later died at St. Joseph's Hospital.
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On Wednesday,
police told local reporters including those at KCEN TV that the emergency call was phoned in by Golden's nephew, who was trying to take her car keys away after the Texas Department of Public Safety refused to renew her driver's license. He told the 911 dispatcher that Golden was very upset, waving a gun around, and threatened him.
Officer Stem arrived on the scene and asked Golden to put down the weapon. It is unknown whether she complied with the request, and Stem fired and mortally wounded her.
"While it is too early in the investigation to comment on any of the facts or evidence stated above, I can say that this was a very tragic occurrence," said District Attorney Coty Siegert. "My prayers go out to the family members of Miss Golden and to the Hearne Community as a whole."
Local residents held a candlelight vigil for the elderly Golden on Wednesday night in front of her home.
"Even if she did have a gun, she is in her 90’s," said neighbor Lawanda Cooke. "They could have shot in the air to scare her. Maybe she would have dropped it. I don’t see her shooting anyone."
"Maybe the answers will come later," said Charles Toliver, who's known Golden all his life. "I don't know, but right now, I can't believe it. I really can't. It's going to be hard on the community, hard on her family."
Stem has been placed on paid leave while the investigation into the incident continues.
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