Katelyn Rose Smith, 30, was shot to death by an officer while undergoing a mental health crisis. Her family will now receive $2 million to resolve the wrongful death lawsuit. Her death was a result of a cop-involved shooting on New Year’s Day 2024 at a home in Longview, Washington.
According to the Tacoma News Tribune, the federal lawsuit states that Rose Smith’s boyfriend dialed 911 on New Year’s Day after taking a gun from her. He urged dispatchers to rush to her house, claiming that she was trying to end her life with firearms in the house.
When the cops finally arrived at the residence, Katelyn’s boyfriend was trying to hold her on the ground and prevent her from getting access to the firearms inside the house. After arriving at the location, one of the officers shouted at Smith’s boyfriend, “Get away from her.”
But he initially refused, worried about what might happen next. “There’s a gun in my room, she’s going for it right now,” he reportedly told the officers. Ultimately, he released her, and she went back inside the home. The cops waited outside as her boyfriend urged them, “Don’t hurt her.”
Moments later, Smith came outside holding an unloaded firearm, according to the authorities. She pointed the gun at the cops, which led them to open fire. The woman was shot 23 times. At least 11 bullets struck her various body parts, including her stomach, leg, chest, and her head.
The wrongful death suit claimed that the officers were equipped with 40mm impact launchers and non-lethal weapons that could have been used to incapacitate her without causing major harm. However, the cops still resorted to lethal force.
Angus Lee, who is now presenting Rose Smith’s family, told the media, “This case shows the devastating consequences of tactical failure and disregard for a person in a mental health crisis. Police knew she was suicidal and knew there were guns in the home.”
The City of Longview agreed to a $2 million wrongful death settlement in the police shooting of Katelyn Rose Smith, who was killed on Jan. 1, 2024. https://t.co/b2flUrpYeI
— FOX 13 Seattle (@fox13seattle) June 17, 2025
“Instead of preventing access, they created the very danger that led to her death,” Lee lamented. The complaint stated that the police were aware that Smith was suffering “a severe mental health crisis, including suicidal ideation and emotional distress, constituting a recognized disability under the ADA.” Smith’s family has accused the officers of negligence, escalating a mental health crisis, and violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Smith’s mother and her children, aged 9 and 14, are now the beneficiaries of the $2 million payout of the wrongful death suit. “Many law enforcement agencies need more and better training on how to handle people who are having a mental health crisis,” said Mark Lindquist, the attorney for the family. “We hope accountability in this case will help bring necessary improvements in how police respond to people with mental health issues.”
City officials released a statement after the settlement was reached. “Following the incident, all involved officers were cleared of wrongdoing through an internal investigation, an external review, and an independent assessment by the Cowlitz County Prosecutor’s Office. After reviewing the findings of the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team, the Cowlitz County Prosecutor’s Office determined the use of deadly force was justified and declined to file criminal charges.”
