Sydney Wilson: Virginia Woman Fatally Shot After Charging Officer with Knife, Bodycam Footage Released

Disturbing bodycam footage shows the tragic moment when a mental health specialist was fatally shot by a veteran Virginia police officer.

She was fatally shot after she charged at the officer with a knife and repeatedly slashed him.

Sydney Wilson, 33, was shot and killed by Fairfax County Officer Peter Liu.

The tragic incident happened on September 16, 2024, in the hallway of her apartment building in Reston, just outside Washington D.C. 

Officers had been dispatched for a welfare check, according to police reports.

The graphic video, released by authorities on Monday, captures Wilson, who appeared “agitated.”

She opened her door briefly before she slammed it in the officer's face. 

For nearly three minutes, Officer Liu tried to talk her into reopening the door. 

When she finally opened the door wearing a bathrobe, she suddenly pulled out a kitchen knife, as shown in the footage.

The officer quickly backed away as the 6-foot-tall Wilson advanced toward him.

Wilson then attacked the officer, slashing him in the face with the knife. 

At this point, Officer Liu, a 14-year department veteran trained in crisis intervention, drew his gun.

He then started retreating down a dead-end hallway, as recorded by his body camera.

She continued to pursue him with the knife raised over her head, despite the officer repeatedly yelling for her to “back up.” 

As she slashed at his face again, the officer opened fire. 

Wilson was hit by three bullets before collapsing, the footage reveals.

Police Chief Kevin Davis commented that Officer Liu made every attempt to de-escalate the situation but was left with no option when trapped in the dead-end hallway. 

“It could have been much, much worse,” Davis said during the video’s release. “The officer sustained a serious gash on his forehead.”

Wilson was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, while the officer received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

Chief Davis also acknowledged the tragedy of the situation.

“Any loss of life is something we all mourn. Sydney had family and loved ones who are undoubtedly grieving. Our thoughts and prayers are with them,” he said.

The video’s release comes just months after Sydney Wilson had shared on LinkedIn about her mental health first aid certification. 

In the post, she expressed her passion for helping others, particularly in her roles as a manager, mentor, and friend.

“As a people manager, mentor, teammate, friend, big cousin, daughter... it’s important to help identify challenges in myself and others. I think this is the greatest act of love,” Wilson wrote.

Sydney wilson was a former Georgetown University basketball player.

She later became a motivational speaker for young female athletes. 

She was also a leasing operations manager in Washington D.C at the time of her death. 

Her obituary describes her as someone whose "legacy of friendship, empathy, and love will remain in the hearts of all who knew her."

Officer Liu, who fired the fatal shots, is currently on administrative duty as the investigation into the incident continues.