Atascadero police use robot to locate distraught woman who began firing a gun in her room
Atascadero police used a robot to gain entry into a home Wednesday after an allegedly suicidal woman began randomly firing a gun inside her bedroom.
A news release issued by the department Wednesday afternoon says that officers and emergency services personnel responded to the 9400 block of Via Cielo regarding a suicidal female who had fired a handgun in her residence.
Officers determined she was still in possession of the handgun when they arrived, and family members were still also present inside the home.
Officers were attempting to evacuate the family members out of the house when the woman — who the department is not identifying — began firing the handgun randomly inside a bedroom, the news release says.
No family members were struck or even threatened during the firing of the gunshots, the department said.
Officers created a perimeter around the house and tried to communicate with the woman via phone but were not successful. They requested use of the San Luis Obispo Police Department’s motorized robot.
That device was used to enter the home and ultimately locate the woman, who was on the floor in a closet. Officers entered the room and found her lying on the handgun and suffering from a pre-existing medical issue, police said.
She was treated at the scene by emergency personnel and taken to the hospital for further treatment in addition to a mental health evaluation.
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 7:39 PM.
