Family demands answers after woman shot, killed by police

A family's call for help ends tragically after their loved one was shot and killed by Johns Creek Police.

"They called for help and she was killed," Edward Ahmed Mitchell, Executive Director of the Council for American Islamic Relations said.

Monday, attorney's representing Shukri Ali Said's family and The Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) shared their concerns about the final moments leading up to the deadly shooting.

"We aren't prejudging how Johns Creek Police handled the situation because we don't have all the facts yet, but we do know that they were aware that she was mentally ill so we want to know what happened from the time they got to her and to the time of the shooting," Ahmed Mitchell said. "Said suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia."

According to attorneys, Saturday Said's sister called 911 to help Said who was struggling with her mental illness.

"She was hearing voices and she took a knife and the car and left the home and neighborhood," Attorney Ibrahim Awad said.

According to Johns Creek Police, officers found the 36-year-old woman near Sweet Creek and Abbotts Bridge Roads not far from Said's Sugar Mill subdivision. Police said Said was armed with a knife and wouldn't listen to commands, so they tried several deescalating tactics like using a stun gun and foam projectiles, but nothing worked. The family's attorneys said they believe JCPD should have done more before opening fire.

"A mentally ill person will not respond the same way as someone else would," Awad said. "There should be continuous deescalating techniques when it comes to handling someone who is mentally ill."

Said was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been asked to look into the shooting.

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