Autopsy: Woman shot 17 times by Fayetteville police in struggle

An autopsy shows a Fayetteville woman shot by police was hit 17 times as they tried to stop her in a struggle.

Jada Johnson called 911 on the night of July 1 to report a home invasion, but responding officers found no evidence that her home was under attack.

Police said Johnson was suffering from a crisis and threatened to hurt herself, both on the 911 call and when they arrived.

Fayetteville Assistant Police Chief James Nolette said officers were on scene for around 30 minutes, when an armed woman confronted them.

After talking with the woman for nearly an hour, Nolette said the woman pulled out a firearm and threatened to harm herself. Next to the woman was her grandmother and her daughter, who were "in harm's way," according to Nolette.

Nolette said officers "relentlessly" tried to get the woman to put the weapon down.

"It just escalated very quickly," Nolette said.

After Johnson agreed to put the handgun down and seek help, officers attempted to grab it from her. That's when the officers began to struggle with the woman, according to Nolette, and officers shot her.

Johnson's autopsy shows she was shot in the head, arm, hip and torso. At the time of death, she had alcohol and methamphetamine in her system.