70-Year-Old Florida Woman Opens Fire Inside Port Orange Police Department Lobby, Chief Says

A 70-year-old Florida woman was confronted by officers Thursday morning after authorities say she walked into the lobby of the Port Orange Police Department and fired a handgun, according to the agency’s police chief.

The department said the situation, which began around 8:30 a.m. local time, posed “no threat to the community” afterward and confirmed that all officers and staff members were safe and accounted for.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, Port Orange Police Chief Manuel Marino said the woman entered the department’s main lobby shortly after 8 a.m. while carrying a handgun. He described her as a roughly 70-year-old White female.

Marino said the woman interacted with civilian employees working near the front records area before displaying the weapon. After remaining in the lobby for several minutes, she allegedly fired a round toward the area where civilian staff were working, he said.

The incident triggered an urgent radio call reporting an active shooter or shooting in progress, Marino said. Officers responded quickly as the woman left the front lobby, where she was then confronted by police arriving at the scene.

Marino said the confrontation led to an officer-involved shooting. The woman was taken to a hospital, though officials did not immediately release her name while awaiting notification of her next of kin. Three officers were involved, he said, and none were injured. No civilian employees were hurt.

The police chief said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

The suspect, according to Marino, was still holding her firearm when confronted by the officers.

Her condition is not immediately clear.