Originally published in the Autumn 2019 edition of the Virginia Defender, issue 60, printed October 28. Reproduced here for accessibility and archival purposes. To find other stories in the Autumn 2019 issue or to download the full PDF, see this post. For the full web catalog, see our Full Issues page.

By Phil Wilayto

As of Oct. 22, the fatal police shooting of a mentally challenged Henrico County woman was still under investigation, according to County police spokesperson Lt. M.C. Pecka.

Gay Plack, 57, was shot and killed Sept. 17 in her own home after police were called by her doctor to check on her welfare.

After entering the house and breaking down the door to Plack’s bedroom, the woman came at the police officers with an ax, according to police reports.

Ms. Plack died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, according to the medical examiner.