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Mary Knowlton

Case from Punta-gorda, FL dated Aug 09, 2016

Victim Details

Mary Knowlton

Female

White / Caucasian

Punta-gorda

FL

2016-08-09

73

Mary

Knowlton

07/20/2026

Case Description

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Mary Knowlton, a 73-year-old retired librarian, tragically lost her life on August 9, 2016, in Punta Gorda, Florida, during a police demonstration gone wrong. Knowlton was participating in a "shoot/don't shoot" exercise organized by the Punta Gorda Police Department as part of a citizen's academy event. The exercise was intended to educate the public on police procedures and the split-second decisions officers must make. Unfortunately, during the demonstration, Officer Lee Coel, who was playing ...
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Links to Additional Sources (12)

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  • the Guardian: The Counted: people killed by police in the United States – interactive
  • The News-Press: Punta Gorda police thought gun that killed woman only had blanks
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    Forum Posts (3)

    Has anyone else been following the Punta Gorda case closely? I've been thinking about how this tragi... ...Read More
    11/27/2024
    I came across the tragic case of Mary Knowlton and couldn't help but think about the ripple effects ... ...Read More
    10/20/2024
    I’ve been thinking a lot about the role of oversight in the events that led to Mary Knowlton's dea... ...Read More
    05/21/2024
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