Georgia Woman Killed by Police After Hoax Packages to 'Anti-Muslim' GOP Pols
Woman's notes charged NY State Sen. Ball, Rep. Peter King with anti-Muslim bias.
— WASHINGTON - Dec 27, 2011 -- A Georgia woman who allegedly sent a hoax WMD package to a Republican New York State senator and another package with a bloody severed pig's foot to Rep.Peter King was shot and killed by police on Christmas morning when officers responded to multiple panic alarms at her apartment.
King, a Long Island Republican who held controversial hearings last year on Muslim extremism, alleged in a statement that the woman sent him a package in April, intercepted by postal inspectors, that contained a severed pig's foot and a note calling him a "Muslim basher" and suggesting King kiss her "black Muslim ass."
According to Cobb County police, when the officers arrived at her Marietta, Ga. home, Jameela Barnette opened the door wielding a knife and a handgun. Police say she was shot dead after she took a swipe at an officer with the knife.
"Moments after knocking on the door, a female (who was armed with a knife and handgun) opened it and began assaulting the officer with the weapons. Despite receiving injuries to his arm, the officer was able to use his service weapon to stop the assault," a statement from Cobb County police said.
The officer's injuries are non-life threatening, police said. The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an ongoing investigation into the incident.
Barnette, 53, allegedly sent a package to New York State Sen. Greg Ball in April that contained a Curious George stuffed monkey, a Star of David and a vial of liquid. She also made threatening statements in a letter filled with a tirade against Jews and Christians, authorities said. The FBI was called in to investigate a potential weapon of mass destruction and Ball's office was locked down.
According to local television station WXXA in New York a woman claiming to be Barnette said she sent the package because she believed Sen. Ball was discriminating against her Muslim faith. Barnette was arrested and indicted earlier this year for her role in sending the package. A judge released her on her own recognizance.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that she was ordered by the judge to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. According to the indictment the package contained a vial labeled "Zyklon B, " is a cyanide-based pesticide used in Nazi concentration camps.
Sen. Ball said of the shooting: "It's extremely unfortunate. I'm glad that it didn't involve taking the life of the officer. It just remains that there unstable people, illogical people, hateful people that law enforcement have to deal with every day."
Asked if he felt moer secure now that the threat against him is gone, Sen. Ball said, "At the end of the day you just move forward with the job and focus on all the good that needs to get done and have full faith in law enforcement."
Rep. King said his office has been cooperating with law enforcement officials since postal screeners intercepted the package in April. "I believe this was all a result of the blind and false hysteria stirred up by opponents of the radicalization hearings I convened in March," he said.
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