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Woman shot dead by Balcones Heights police after officers say she charged at them with homemade weapon

Police said all efforts to stop the woman, including three tasings, were ineffective.

SAN ANTONIO — The Balcones Heights Police Department said a woman was killed in an officer-involved shooting that took place Friday night.

According to Balcones Heights Chief of Police John Jahanara, an officer observed a woman loitering on a private property and attempted to instruct her to gather her belongings and exit the property.

Jahanara said that's when the woman, later identified as 49-year-old Marta Prater, became irate and attempted to attack the officer with a homemade weapon, shattering a rear window of a patrol vehicle.

A backup officer arrived on scene and both attempted to calm Prater down but all attempts, including three tasings were ineffective, according to the police chief.

The suspect allegedly began to chase the primary officer while swinging the homemade weapon, during which the backup officer fired two rounds at the woman to stop her.

Police say the officers immediately began to administer first aid before paramedics arrived on scene and transported Prater to a nearby hospital where she later died.

Credit: KENS 5
Credit: KENS 5

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