Woman, 66, shot dead after police say she attacked them with bat

Deborah Danner, 66, was shot and killed after she allegedly attacked police with a baseball bat.

Oct 19, 2016

On Tuesday, a 66-year-old woman was shot and killed after she allegedly attacked police with a baseball bat. Police are now investigating why the sergeant who shot her used a gun instead of a Taser.

A neighbor had complained about Deborah Danner behaving “in an irrational manner,” and authorities said that they had been to the address before for similar calls.

When they arrived, Danner was in the bedroom threatening police with a pair of scissors. Although Sgt. Hugh Barry convinced her to drop the scissors, she then picked up a baseball bat and came toward him to a “close distance of an amount of feet.”

“As she attempted to strike the sergeant, he fired two shots from his service revolver, striking her in the torso,” said Assistant Chief Larry Nikunen, the commanding officer of Patrol Borough Bronx.

The shooting is currently under investigation, with authorities looking into why Barry discharged his gun instead of his Taser.

“The sergeant was armed with a Taser. It was not deployed, and the reason it was not deployed will be part of the investigation and review,” Nikunen said.

Until the investigation is complete, Barry has been stripped of his badge and gun and has been placed on modified duty.