SUFFOLK, Va. — A girl accused of "wielding weapons" is in the hospital after a Suffolk police officer shot her just before noon Saturday.
Police were responding to a disturbance involving someone with weapons on Oakglen and McLaren drives at around 11:45 a.m. when the shooting happened, according to Jennifer Moore, a city spokesperson.
The mother of the girl told 13News Now that her 15-year-old daughter was having a mental health episode and was holding a knife when police responded.
The mother said she learned of the shooting through a neighbor. She said the neighbor called her with news no mother wants to hear – that her daughter was shot.
The mother said her neighbor tried to explain to officers that the girl suffers with mental health issues.
Despite efforts to de-escalate the situation, the city spokesperson says the girl approached police in a "threatening manner with the weapons," prompting an officer to fire his weapon, striking her.
Medics treated the girl at the scene before bringing her to a hospital with injuries considered serious.
The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave as part of the investigation.
The girl's mother told 13News Now that she wants to see the body camera footage of the situation.
When asked if police attempted to use a taser, a city spokesperson said, "That detail is currently under investigation and we are not releasing that detail at this time."
Police have not released any updates on the girl's condition.