Nassau County, Florida – Disclaimer: This story and video contain graphic content. Discretion is recommended.
Some Northeast Florida agencies have mental health professionals who work with law enforcement to de-escalate the situation.
In Nassau County, a woman “who had a Model BB rifle” was shot dead by a lieutenant last month, sheriffs said. However, mental health experts say the situation was too dangerous to allow co-responders to come up with a surrogate.
The Nassau County Sheriff’s Department released body camera footage of the fatal shooting on Thursday.
The 47-year-old’s Barbara Lane home in Donna Dale responded to a domestic disturbance around 2:15 a.m., a representative said.
When deputies arrived, they said Dale had left the house and was in bushes on the property. Her agent could hear her, they said, but she couldn’t see her.
According to the sheriff’s office, Dale aimed the rifle at himself and then at the sheriff.
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leaper previously said investigators determined the rifle she was holding after the shooting was a “BB-style rifle.”
After watching the footage, Dale’s family requested two things: privacy and prayers for Dale’s children.
News4JAX spoke with Dale’s family when the shooting occurred in January.
Dale’s niece, Amber Stoner, said, “Her mental health was exactly what I said. I think I’m just building it up.
The family said Dale had previously acted as Baker, and the sheriff’s office said she had acted as Baker a month before the January shootings.
“I lost my children. I have nothing to live for,” Dale can be heard saying on body camera footage.
The agent said, “Donna, what happened tonight? Tell us.”
Lawmakers repeatedly asked Dale to come out of the bush.
“You have no choice. Your training will (expletive) take over,” says Dale.
Dr. Christine Cauffield is CEO of LSF Health Systems, a group that provides mental health services. Corfield said this was traumatic for Dale, her family, and her involved agents.
“It’s very heartbreaking for individuals to reach the point where they feel hopeless in their lives,” Cauffield told News4JAX on Friday.
According to Dale’s family, she had crashed hours before the shooting. Her family said her agent wanted Baker to play her.
News4JAX is waiting for the sheriff’s office to release video of the incident.
Corfield said, historically, states rank very low in funding behavioral health care. Most of the funding was focused on programs such as the Baker Act.
“With the new money flowing in this fiscal year, we can now focus on prevention, funding, preventive action, programs that help prevent outcomes like these,” Corfield said.
Cauffield reminds everyone that they can call 988 if they need help. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Also, she said to keep in mind that the state has programs that serve individuals in many different situations.
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