Linda Jean Croteau, a 71-year-old woman, was shot and killed by law enforcement after entering the Port Orange Police Department lobby in Florida, brandishing a firearm, and opening fire near employee workspaces, according to local authorities.
The confrontation triggered a response in Volusia County.
The Confrontation Inside the Port Orange Lobby
Croteau walked into the public reception area of the Port Orange police facility carrying a handgun.
She fired one round toward the property and evidence room area, where civilian employees were working. Despite the discharge of the firearm, none of the civilian workers or police personnel sustained physical injuries from her shot.
Port Orange Police Chief Manuel Marino later expressed concern regarding the emotional well-being of his civilian staff, noting during a press briefing that administrative employees lack training for such scenarios. “You cannot expect something like that to happen within your own building, a Thursday at 8 o’clock in the morning,” Marino remarked to reporters.
Tactical Escalation and the Fatal Exchange in the Parking Lot
After discharging her weapon inside the building, Croteau exited through the main lobby doors into the facility’s parking lot. The area contained responding patrol units and civilians as the emergency radio dispatch alerted officers to an active shooter situation.
Surveillance cameras captured the sequence as officers confronted the armed woman. Police issued repeated verbal commands ordering Croteau to drop her weapon. When she continued advancing without complying, three officers opened fire, delivering an initial volley that brought her down.
Footage from the scene revealed that after collapsing from the initial gunfire, Croteau attempted to push herself back up and reach for the pistol. Officers discharged their weapons a second time. The shooting stopped the moment she released the firearm.
Investigation and State Oversight
Emergency medical aid was administered to Croteau at the scene before she was transported to a hospital, where she died.
Authorities have kept the records section of the Port Orange Police Department closed to the public. Chief Marino emphasized that the agency is supporting the officers involved in the encounter, pointing out the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of the situation.
Investigators continue to probe the incident to determine a motive, as local officials prepare critical incident debriefings for the civilian and sworn personnel.
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