Violent Knife Attack on Va. Police Officer Caught by Body Camera

Oct. 15, 2024

A welfare check at an apartment complex left a Fairfax County police officer with injuries to his face after he was attacked by a woman who rushed at him with a knife.

Virginia police released disturbing body camera footage that captured a violent knife attack last year, leaving an officer injured and a woman dead.

The incident happened when a Fairfax County Police Officer Peter Liu responded to a welfare check in Reston on Sept. 16, WUSA-TV reports. In the video, Liu, a 14-year veteran trained in crisis intervention, knocked on the door but had it slammed in his face by woman inside, identified as Sydney Wilson, 33.

Liu continued knocking at the door while Wilson played music from her phone inside. When she eventually opened the door, Wilson rushed out and began slashing Liu with a knife.

Retreating down the hall, Liu is heard telling Wilson to back away. But she continued attacking Liu with the knife.

Finally, Liu opened fire and shot her three times. She was rushed to the hospital, where she died of her injuries.

At a Monday press conference, Chief Kevin Davis said Liu responded properly in the face of the violent, unprovoked attack.

“He did the things that we trained him and expect him to do when you’re threatened like that," he said. "If you can tactically reposition yourself, you do it. If you can use distance, use it. If you can seek cover and concealment, seek it. All those options weren’t available to him.”

Liu also was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries to his face.