Man Stabbed an 80-Year-Old Woman and an Officer
The Houston Police Department received a call about a suspicious person outside the Fiesta Mart. According to authorities they received a call reporting that the suspect was asking for change and threatened the customers with a knife outside.Police Chief Art Acevedo said that they immediately responded six minutes after the call. However, they were unable to find the suspect when they arrived around 10:11 on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, an unsuspecting 80-year-old woman was about to go back to her car after shopping when she saw the man and she was attacked. The suspect then stabbed the woman at the chest and he attempted to start the car and drive away. Luckily, witnesses saw the crime sought attention of an officer nearby. The responding officer immediately and ordered the suspect to step out of the vehicle. The suspect stepped out of the vehicle, but was still armed with a knife and tried to stab the police officer instead of cooperating.
The woman was identified as Rosalie Cook was brought to the nearby hospital, Memorial Hermann, where she was declared dead due to the wounds she suffered. The police officer discharged two rounds to defend himself because the suspect was violent. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by the Houston Fire Department.
Families and Friends Grieve Over the Tragic Death of the 80-Year-Old Woman
Rosalie Cook's family and friends grieve over her unexpected tragic death. Cook is survived by her four children and six grandchildren. They said that their mother is so sweet and affectionate most especially to her grandchildren
Oscar Lara, a family friend, and her neighbor for 14 years said in an interview: "I got a message from her yesterday, and I want to keep it. She's so sweet. She always takes care of everybody. The cookies... nobody makes cookies like her. To be honest, I don't believe it. I was thinking, maybe it was someone else."
He also added that the last time he saw Rosalie Cook was when she waved at him as she pulled out of the driveway. Until now, he can't believe what happened to his sweet neighbor for 14 years.
The Police Officer Who Shoot the Suspect
The Houston Police Department said that the police officer who responded in the scene wore a body camera. Acevedo said that he reviewed the recorded video including the security footage of Walgreens as part of the investigation.
He said in an article: "What was found, that makes me angry, is this suspect didn't just stab an 80-year-old woman. He then goes down and starts rifling through her stuff and then tries to steal her car."
He also added that based on the recorded videos, the officer had no choice but to shoot the suspect who stabbed the woman and attempted to stab him as well.
Moreover, the Special Investigation Unit will conduct an independent criminal investigation on how the responding police officer handled the incident and to investigate the murder of the woman.
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