Norfolk, VA: Husband of woman shot by officer had protective order

By Patrick Wilson
The Virginian-Pilot
© December 14, 2010
NORFOLK

A woman who was shot and killed by an officer over the weekend was separated from her husband and had been charged with attacking him, according to a police incident report.

Tynisha J. Townsend, 22, died after she was shot on Saturday by an officer who was trying to arrest her on a felony assault warrant.

Her husband, Larry T. Townsend Jr., told police on Thursday that his wife attacked him the day before in their apartment on West Bay Avenue. A friend saw the fight, during which Larry Townsend suffered a small cut. He got an emergency protective order against his wife Thursday, police said.

The warrant for Tynisha Townsend was on file when police were called to her apartment building about 5 p.m. Saturday for a report of a woman brandishing a hammer.

When an officer reached into Townsend's parked car to try to detain her, she bit him, rolled up the window and drove onto the street, dragging him and prompting him to shoot her, police said.

The shooting remains under review.