A 17-year-old girl walked into the Longview, Texas police station. Then, only minutes later, police say they were “forced” to shoot and kill her, Thursday night.
The girl, Kristiana Cognard, walked into the empty lobby and approached the after-hours assistance phone.
“We don’t know how she got here,” Longview police officer Kristie Brian said.
Coignard was connected to dispatch, via the after-hours phone. Dispatch then sent officers out to confront her. But no one knows exactly what was said then.
Police, however, say that she “pulled a weapon” and “threatened” them.
We asked what weapon she brandished.
“I don’t know what kind it was, yes she did brandish a weapon,” Officer Brian said on Friday.
The teenage girl was pronounced dead by a justice of the peace after being taken to a local hospital.
Three officers were placed on administrative leave shortly after this incident. We will update you as we receive more information about this case.
(Article by Moreh B.D.K.)
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Kristiana Coignard (Source: Facebook)
(Source: KLTV News Staff)
Police on scene of own lockdown. (Source: KLTV News staff)
Police investigating on scene. (Source: KLTV News Staff)
Rose left in front of LPD station in memory of teen shot Thursday night. (Source: KLTV Staff)
LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) -A single rose was left in front of the Longview police station on Cotton Street in memory of the teenager shot Thursday night.
Investigators say the woman, identified as Kristiana Cognard, 17, of Longview, walked in the front doors of the empty lobby and made her way to the after-hours assistance phone.
"We don't know how she got here," said Longview police officer Kristie Brian.
After hours the police lobby is closed and all the windows are shut down. Police say Coignard came up to the courtesy phone and was connected to dispatch who then sent officers out to her.
It's unknown what was said when officers met her, but that's when police say she pulled out a weapon and threatened officers.
The department's lobby was temporarily on lockdown after the incident.On Thursday, Officer Kristie Brian said that Coignard entered the lobby of the police department. She picked up the red assistance phone in the lobby, and asked for police to come to her. When officers entered the lobby, Brian said, the woman was wielding a weapon, and was making threatening movements toward the officers. The woman was then shot by police.
"I don't know what kind it was, yes she did brandish a weapon," said Brian on Friday.
The woman was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center, according to police, where she was pronounced dead by a justice of the peace.
A representative from Pine Tree Independent School District said Coignard was a former student at the high school but withdrew in September 2013.
When reporters arrived at the scene Thursday, they said the activity was focused on the entrance on the side of the building facing the municipal court building. A police investigations unit pulled up to the entrance. Authorities were seen coming and going from the scene, which was taped off.
Mayor Jay Dean said Thursday evening that he had been told that a woman entered the police department wielding a knife, but that he was waiting for that to be confirmed.
The Texas Rangers responded to the scene and are leading the investigation. Three officers were placed on administrative leave with pay following the incident, which occurred around 6:30 p.m.
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