4 Tacoma officers involved in fatal shooting of woman in early January officially named
The names of four Tacoma police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a 61-year-old woman in early January have been released.
Rhoda Butler died from multiple gunshot wounds on Jan. 9 near the 4000 block of South Bell Street. The Tacoma SWAT team shot at her during a standoff after Butler fired a gun towards her neighbors, authorities have said.
The officers involved were:
- Aaron McNeely, 30, who has been with the Tacoma Police Department for eight years.
- Scott Meffen, 38, who has been with the Tacoma Police Department for eight years. He previously worked for the Gainesville Police Department in Florida for nine years and eight months.
- Ryan Warner, 32, who has been with the Tacoma Police Department for five years.
- Derek Nielsen, 50, who has been with the Tacoma Police Department for one year and eight months. He previously worked for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department for seven years and nine months.
Officers were dispatched outside Butler’s residence at 7:21 a.m. They were advised that she had mental health issues and officers had responded to her home in the past, according to a Pierce County Force Investigation Team news release.
Officers contained her home and tried to speak with her. She eventually came out and pointed a gun at officers before going back inside. The Tacoma SWAT team was dispatched to assist and have negotiators speak with Butler. The SWAT team fired shots at Butler at 9:41 a.m., authorities previously have said. Officers tried to provide aid, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
PCFIT is continuing to investigate.
