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SAUGUS, MASS. (WHDH) – Heartbroken family and friends of a Saugus mother of two who was shot and killed by police when she allegedly wielded a knife at officers on Saturday question the response to what they say is a mental health call.
Stacey Gerardi said her sister Stephanie, 38, was living with mental health issues and called the police to help her sister, as she had done before.
When police arrived at Stephanie’s home on Alfred Road, Stephanie showed a knife, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, prompting one of the officers to shoot her three times.
The officer who shot and killed Stephanie is on administrative leave and the prosecutor’s office is investigating the shooting. Stacey said her sister had two children aged 7 and 8 and asked why Stephanie was shot when she just needed help.
Family friend Lisa Fuller said, “It’s not a crime to have mental health. She didn’t ask for mental health issues, no one does. She may have a mental illness, but I think more people need to be educated about mental illness before they react. “
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