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Woman shot, killed by Medina County Sheriff had 'replica' gun, police say

Woman was known to police, suffered from mental health problems
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MEDINA, Ohio — The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, along with the Medina Police Department, is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Wednesday evening involving the Medina County Sheriff's Office.

On Thursday, a press conference was held regarding the shooting; you can watch the full press conference in the player below.

News conference about fatal deputy shooting in Medina Wednesday night

Surveillance video from the Medina Sheriff's Office shows Carter pull up in a car and park on the sidewalk outside the sheriff's office.

A man, whose identity was not released, approached Carter's car. Carter then got out of the vehicle and immediately lunged at the man while holding a knife and a gun in her hands.

The man then went to the sheriff's office and used an intercom outside their building to alert deputies.

At the same time, Carter is seen on video waving her arms around while facing the building.

Watch the full surveillance video in the player below:

News conference about fatal deputy shooting in Medina Wednesday night

Medina Police Chief Ed Kinney said Medina County Sheriff Terry Grice and Deputy Doug Clinage then went outside to confront Carter, who was still holding the gun and the knife.

He said both of them ordered Carter to drop her weapons.

Instead, she charged towards them. Clinage then tasered Carter, but it didn't appear to have any effect on her.

The surveillance video shows Carter then moving toward the officers again.

That's when Grice shot and killed her. Carter died at the scene.

During the news conference at Medina City Hall Thursday afternoon, Kinney also said the gun Victoria Carter, 37, was holding in her hand turned out to be a "replica."

"In a split second, it’s impossible for a police officer to determine whether a firearm, a replica firearm is real or not," Kinney said. "I think any reasonable officer would have acted the way they did when presented with those exact same facts."

Grice and Clinage were not injured.

Grice is on paid leave while the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducts a criminal investigation into the shooting death.

Kinney said Carter had no criminal history but "is known" to Medina police. He said officers have performed welfare checks related to mental health issues at her Lafayette Township home.

Kinney said the shooting highlights the need for improved mental health services.

"These folks who are having mental health struggles, they need resources, they need avenues they can go to so that it doesn’t turn into a tragic situation like this," he said.

It's unclear why Carter was at the sheriff's office Wednesday, but Chief Kinney said her boyfriend is currently incarcerated at their jail.

Earlier this month, Shaker Heights police issued a safety notice to parents due to the department seeing an increase in the number of minors carrying and brandishing replica guns.

Shaker Heights Police sending urgent message about this dangerous weapon

RELATED: Shaker Heights Police sending urgent message about this dangerous weapon

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