Family of Ohio woman killed by police files lawsuit

CINCINNATI (AP) — The family of a Cincinnati woman shot dead by police last weekend is suing the officer responsible, saying that he killed her without provocation.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court, accuses Cincinnati police Officer Matthew Latzy of wrongful death in the Oct. 13 shooting of 26-year-old Erica Collins.

Latzy did not immediately return a call for comment Friday, but police Sgt. Dennis Swingley says that the officer shot Collins twice because she was threatening him with a knife.

The lawsuit accuses Latzy of shooting Collins after she refused to put the knife down and says she wasn’t posing an immediate threat.

Latzy had been responding to a call about a fight Collins was having with her sister.

Latzy, a 13-year veteran, is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.