PUNTA GORDA, Fla. -- A woman was shot to death during a "shoot or don't shoot" training exercise Tuesday at the Punta Gorda Police Academy, according to police.
Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis said the woman was "mistakenly struck with a live round" during a Citizens Academy scenario designed to simulate the use of lethal force. It's not clear how the apparent fatal ammunition mix-up occurred.
The woman, identified as Mary Knowlton, was randomly selected to participate in the exercise as roughly 35 people watched.
She was shot multiple times during a role play exercise in which the officer pretended to be the "bad guy," with Knowlton playing the victim, a photographer covering the event told the Charlotte Sun.
Knowlton was rushed to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The Citizens Academy is designed to teach local civics to civilians who apply for the eight-week course, according to Punta Gorda's official website.
Chief Tom Lewis said in a statement, “I am devastated for everyone involved in this unimaginable event. If you pray, please pray for Mary’s family, and for the officers who were involved. Everyone involved in this accident is in a state of overwhelming shock and grief.”
An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
See the full Punta Gorda Police Department statement below: