A woman was fatally shot by police after charging an officer with a butcher knife just days after her brother was charged with attempting to help the Islamic State.
Temple Terrace Police were called to talk to a woman, identified as Heba Momtaz Al-Azhari, on Friday. She did not show any signs of distress while talking to the officer but later began brandishing a knife and tried to attack him with it, according to police. The officer then fatally shot the woman, who later died at a hospital.
Part of the incident was caught on a surveillance camera and comes as the country faces mass protests over the death of George Floyd.
"We want it to be clear that this was an unprovoked, very unfortunate situation, but that the officer really had no other choice, when the knife wasn't dropped and the assault continued, but to defend themselves," Police Chief Kenneth Albano said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the situation.
Heba Momtaz Al-Azhari has been identified as the sister of Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azhari, 23, who was arrested on May 24 by FBI agents. Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azhari was charged “with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS),” according to the Department of Justice.
"He also expressed admiration for Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen and spoke of his desire to carry out a similar mass casualty shooting," the DOJ statement reads. "Additionally, Al-Azhari researched and scouted potential targets in the Tampa area, including Honeymoon Island. He also rehearsed portions of an attack and the statements that he would make during or in connection with such an attack."
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