Update: Mary Knowlton's family released a statement about the settlement.
Punta Gorda’s City Council will vote Wednesday to approve a $2,064,234 settlement in the shooting death of 73-year-old Mary Knowlton during a “shoot-don’t shoot” demonstration at the Punta Gorda Police Department on August 9.
Knowlton’s widower, Gary Knowlton, has already signed the settlement agreement negotiated with the city’s insurance carrier on behalf of her estate. The agreement states that “the City denies any wrongdoing” and admits no “liability or culpability”, in her death.
Knowlton was killed when Punta Gorda police officer Lee Coel shot her with a .38-caliber revolver that was supposed to have been loaded with blanks for a demonstration of how long an officer has when deciding whether or not to fire his weapon when being threatened by an armed assailant. Coel has been on paid administrative leave since then.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has submitted its criminal investigative report on the shooting to the State Attorney’s Office. The report has not been made public. The state attorney has the option of deciding whether to bring criminal charges based on the report, investigate more itself, or ask the FDLE to investigate more.
The six page document that city manager Howard Kunik is recommending the City Council approve says, “the City and its officers maintain that they did not violate anyone’s civil rights nor act wrongfully or negligently during the incident.”
The Knowlton family has not commented on the settlement agreement.