Woman Handing Out Samples at Va. Costco Shot Dead by Police

[Silent_Bob]

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Deputy-Shot-at-Costco-in-Sterling-209389621.html

A Sterling, Va., Costco opened at its regular time Thursday, less than a day after sheriff's deputies fatally shot a woman who came at officers with scissors and a knife.

The melee began at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, when store employees noticed the woman acting oddly while handing out pizza samples, said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman.

The woman has been identified as 38-year-old Mhai Scott of Sterling.

Scott reportedly became upset when she ran out of pizza, reported Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey. Witnesses said she was waving a knife and scissors, threatening employees.

Deputies were called to the store to handle the disturbance. After they arrived, Scott -- who worked for a company that handles sampling at Costco stores -- approached the officers with the sharp items, authorities said.

One deputy tried to use a stun gun on Scott, but Chapman said the stun gun "did not work," and another deputy fatally shot her.

A sheriff's deputy also was wounded in the leg by a ricocheting bullet. The injury was not life-threatening.

Only one deputy fired shots, Chapman said.

The Costco Warehouse Store is located at 21398 Price Cascades Plaza in Loudoun County, Va. It reopened at 10 a.m. Thursday. No samples were being handed out.

Nora Lateef said she was at the food court in the store when she saw three deputies rush into the store and head toward the employee lounge, asking, "Where is Linda?"

Soon, Lateef said, she heard five shots and the store was evacuated. They were saying "Everybody out of the store! Out of the store!" Lateef said.

Shopper Elizabeth Avelar told News4 she believes she had contact with Scott prior to the shooting. "The woman was very nice, very polite," Avelar said.

Avelar was later ushered out of the store following the incident.

"I had no idea whether somebody was being shot, if there was a bomb threat," Avelar said. "It was very difficult to get out of the parking lot -- people were honking their horns. It was frightening."

Chapman said Scott was an employee of Club Demonstration Services, Inc., a Costco subcontractor.

CDS President Don Dohanyos released a statement Wednesday:

    "We are extremely saddened by the situation that occurred at the Costco warehouse in Sterling, Va., earlier today. We are treating this with the utmost sensitivity and are cooperating fully with the authorities as they gather more details on the events leading up to the shooting of our CDS associate. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was affected by this event."

[Jim Johnson]

What happened to, "Is there a problem I can help with?"
Or "Settle down, there's more pizza."

It's just bang, your dead, I ain't got time for this shit.

And thanks for shooting your partner in the leg, here's your metal.