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Police: Armed woman dressed in Special Police uniform fatally shot by DC police

Police said that the woman shot and killed, 42-year-old Erica Graham, was not a licensed SPO in D.C.

WASHINGTON — Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) fatally shot an armed woman wearing a Special Police Officer (SPO) uniform in Northwest D.C. who allegedly shot another woman before police arrived, according to MPD's Internal Affairs Bureau. An investigation determined that the woman shot and killed42-year-old Erica Graham, was not a licensed SPO in D.C., police said. 

At around 6 a.m. MPD officers responded to the 800 Block of Crittenden Street in Northwest D.C.for reports of a shooting. Once on scene, the officers said they found a woman shot in the arm and Graham, wearing the SPO uniform, standing on the porch hitting a gun against the doorframe of the house. 

According to police, Graham was told numerous times to drop her weapon but didn't. Police said once she pointed her gun at officers, one MPD officer shot her. 

Officers performed life-saving measures until Fire & EMS arrived, but Graham was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured. 

During a press briefing Saturday, Police Chief Robert Contee said Graham was "acting erratically," and she smashed the windows on the porch of another person's residence.

According to Contee, "a special police officer is a person who is uninformed that's commissioned through the city to provide services; a security guard essentially." 

On Monday, Contee offered more details of the uniform, saying Graham was wearing tactical pants and a bullet-proof vest that included a body-worn camera.

Contee also said the security company described Graham's job as a concierge, or the person responsible for dispatching special police officers.

Police are still working to determine the reason for the shooting between the woman dressed in the special police officer uniform and the other woman.

Both women are reported to live on the same block, according to police.

"She did not deserve this," said Tony Perry who told WUSA9 he is Graham's cousin. 

Perry said Graham was a mother of three and new grandmother, but did not comment on why she was said to be wearing the SPO uniform or what may have led up to the confrontation with the other woman. 

Perry said he plans to file a complaint and "work within the system" to get answers as to why police shot his cousin. 

MPD said the officer who shot Graham has been placed on administrative leave, per department policy, and bodyworn camera footage from the shooting is being reviewed.

The investigation is ongoing Police are asking anyone in the area who may have any additional information to contact the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099 or text them anonymously at 50411.

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