A Fairfax County police officer is under investigation after Sydney Wilson, a 33-year-old Virginia woman, was killed during a welfare check in Reston on September 16, 2024.
A month after the shooting, the Fairfax County Police Department released body camera footage of the officer-involved shooting. In the video, Wilson can be seen charging at the Fairfax County police officer with a knife before she was shot and killed.
Trigger warning: The following video contains scenes that are graphic in nature. Viewer discretion is advised
According to multiple reports, the unnamed police officer who shot Wilson was responding to a welfare check request from a mental health professional at the time of the incident.
Wilson was shot after she charged the officer with a knife and wounded him at the scene. The officer issued multiple verbal commands to de-escalate the situation before he discharged his weapon.
The body camera footage of the incident was shared by journalist Andy NGO, who alleged Sydney Wilson was a former NAACP activist. Police have not confirmed the assertion.
However, a Facebook profile that seemingly belonged to Wilson showed she was a commercial Real estate agent, who graduated from Georgetown University in 2009. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native was living in Reston, Virginia, at the time of the incident.
Wilson was also a Mental health advocate,, who was certified in Adult Mental Health First Aid in April 2024. In a tribute post on X, Wilson's alma mater Georgetown Univeristy revealed she was a member of the women's basketball team.
Video shows moment Sydney Wilson was shot and killed by Fairfax County Police Officer
According to multiple reports, on September 16, 2024, around 10:17 a.m., an unnamed police officer responding to a welfare check request from a mental health professional knocked on Sydney Wilson’s apartment door. In the video, the officer can be seen knocking before Wilson, clad in a bathrobe, answers the door and immediately shuts it following a brief exchange.
The officer continues to talk to Wilson through the closed door for two minutes before Wilson, armed with a knife, opens the door and immediately attacks him with the weapon. Per multiple reports, Wilson allegedly slashed the officer's head.
The startled officer reached for his gun before backing away from the door. The audibly distressed officer can be heard issuing several verbal warnings to Wilson to back up as she continues to approach him with the knife. After the officer is backed into a corner, preventing further retreat, he shoots Wilson multiple times before fleeing from the area toward the corridor.
As she continues to approach the officer, he fires a last shot, incapacitating Wilson. The injured officer immediately reaches for his radio to report the incident before requesting a medic.
Fairfax County chief extends condolence to Sydney Wilson's family
According to NBC, responding officers rendered CPR until EMS personnel arrived at the scene and transported Wilson to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Chief Davis said the officer did everything he could to de-escalate the situation before he was impelled to fire his weapon.
Davis also extended his condolence to Sydney Wilson’s family, saying:
"Any loss of life is something that we all mourn. The person whose life was lost in this particular case is no different; she has family and friends and loved ones who love her very much, who care about her and undoubtedly are grieving and upset and we acknowledge that and we pray and our thoughts are with this particular family."
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Davis also noted mental welfare checks are usually responded with a mental health co-responder. However, Davis said the mental health co-responder was on another call.
The unnamed responding officer remains on administrative leave as the department continues to investigate the incident.
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