‘Homicidal’ woman fatally shot at pet cemetery after charging Pasco deputies with knife

Editor’s note: Due to the graphic nature of the body cam footage, WFLA has edited the video to pause before the deputies fired their weapons.

HUDSON, Fla. (WFLA) — A woman has died Thursday evening after she was shot by Pasco County deputies after she allegedly charged at them with a 12-inch knife, Sheriff Chris Nocco said.

At about 3:30 p.m., dispatchers received a call from a passerby who was flagged down by the woman, Isabella North, 29, at a pet cemetery near Denton Avenue and Dane Lane in Hudson.

According to the passerby, North said she needed help, so they gave her their phone to call 911.

By the time deputies arrived at the scene, they were aware “the suspect was homicidal and knew that she had a knife,” Nocco said.

Nocco said the suspect stated multiple times that she felt “like she’s going to kill somebody” and told the dispatcher she was armed with a knife and had been diagnosed as “clinically insane.”

Nocco said deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the suspect pulled out a 12-inch knife and raised the weapon, calling it an “attacking situation.”

The deputies drew their firearms, and the woman continued walking toward them in a “quicker and faster manner.” They were forced to fire at her to “protect their own lives,” the sheriff said.

“It’s a very sad situation. The deputies are all trained in de-escalation, however, the subject did not allow us to talk to her,” Nocco added.

The sheriff’s office said the two deputies each shot one round at the woman.

“I listened to the 911 call,” Nocco said. “Those deputies did what they had to do. Those deputies protected their own lives and God forbid those deputies allowed her to go off and wander off, she would have killed somebody tonight. Those deputies prevented a homicide.”

The suspect was taken to the hospital, where she died.

No officers were injured during the incident. The officers who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

Denton Avenue is currently shut down between Hicks Road and Easy Water Lane while deputies conduct their investigation.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will be investigating the shooting.

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