On May 29, 2013, 38-year-old Filipino contract worker Mhai Scott was shot and killed by a Loudoun County sheriff’s deputy inside a Costco in Sterling, Virginia. Store employees reported Scott was behaving erratically and threatening colleagues with a knife and scissors. Deputies who arrived found her armed and agitated; commands to drop the weapons were not followed. A deputy deployed a Taser that had no effect, and when Scott advanced toward the deputies one officer fired multiple shots, killing her at the scene. A second deputy suffered a minor injury, possibly from a ricochet, and was treated and released.

The Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney reviewed witness statements and evidence and concluded the deputy’s use of force was justifiable self-defense; no criminal charges were filed. The shooting and questions about responding to people in mental health crisis, highlighted by Scott’s mother saying her daughter had been dealing with depression, left the community shaken. Did anyone who worked at that Costco or was in the store that day see what happened or have details to share?