Lori Renee Knowles, a 37-year-old White female, died on July 24, 2014, in Hampton, Georgia, following a confrontation with police who had been dispatched to her home. The incident began when Knowles made a distressing 911 call, screaming that she had taken too many pills and needed immediate help. Her husband, Ken Knowles, also called 911 while rushing home, informing the dispatcher that his wife was bipolar and had likely taken too much of her medication, pleading with them not to harm her.
Henry County Police officers were sent to the residence on Cobb Court for a 'trouble unknown' call after a 911 hang-up. When officers arrived, Lori did not answer the door, leading them to force entry into the home. Inside, they found Knowles with a gun at her side. According to the Henry County Police, she did not comply with orders to show her hands and made a move toward the weapon, which prompted an officer to shoot her.
After being shot, Knowles informed the officers she had been hit, and paramedics found a gunshot wound to her right breast. She was strapped to a stretcher to be taken to the hospital and, while en route, was administered anti-psychotic medication. Subsequently, she began to have seizures, became unresponsive, and ultimately died of a cardiac dysrhythmia before reaching the hospital. An autopsy later determined that the gunshot wound itself was not fatal, as the bullet did not enter her chest cavity. However, the medical examiner concluded that the wound could have been a contributing factor to the stress that led to her fatal cardiac event, in conjunction with mixed drug intoxication and a history of bipolar and panic disorders.
The officer who shot Knowles was identified as Officer Jason Hart. Ken Knowles, Lori's surviving husband, later filed a lawsuit against Officer Hart, alleging the use of excessive force. The court records indicate that the case was reviewed, and the officer's entitlement to qualified and official immunity was a central issue. No criminal charges are known to have been filed against the officer involved.
