On January 22, 2015 at 6:28 p.m., Kristiana Coignard entered the Longview Police Department lobby and picked up the after hours phone that rings to Public Safety Communications and asked for help. When asked what she needed she refused to tell the communications operator what the problem was. Police Officers were dispatched to the Police Department a short time later.  When Officer Glenn Derr arrived Coignard indicated to Officer Derr that she had a gun, which resulted in a physical confrontation when Officer Derr attempted to secure Coignard.  During the physical confrontation Officer Derr determined she had a large butcher knife which she was attempting to pull out of her waistband.  Officer Derr was able to disengage from Coignard.   Officer Gene Duffie entered the lobby during the confrontation and drew his taser. While Officer Grace Bagley was entering the Police Department lobby she saw Coignard had a knife. As Coignard charged Officer Derr with the knife in a threatening manner, Officer Duffie deployed his taser at Coignard with no effect. Officer Derr then discharged his weapon three times. Officer Bagley fired her weapon twice. EMS was summoned to the scene and Coignard was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center at 6:45 p.m.   She was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace James Mathis.

Longview Police immediately locked down the front area of the Police Department to secure the scene.

As is the case with all officer involved shootings resulting in serious bodily injury or death an investigation is being conducted by the Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers.  The involved officers have been placed on paid administrative leave.

As this is an active investigation and additional information may be released as the investigation allows.  The case will be presented to the Gregg County District Attorney for review upon completion.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the involved officers and the family of Ms. Coignard.