Woman killed by police at Butler Twp. hotel identified

A woman who was shot and killed by police Sunday at a Butler Twp. hotel was identified Tuesday.

Terena Nicole Thurman, 36, died from a gunshot wound to the chest, according to Montgomery County Coroner Kent Harshbarger. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Police responded to the Days Inn motel on Miller Lane on Sunday around 4:55 p.m. after a clerk said a guest reported he was “robbed by a lady,” according to a 911 call.

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When two officers arrived at the motel, Thurman ran from them and assaulted another person and stole their pickup truck, Butler Twp. Police Chief John Porter said during a Monday press conference.

One of the officers was “knocked down and drug back” by the truck when Thurman put it in reverse as the officers were trying to take her into custody, Porter said.

The officer then shot Thurman.

Porter said the officer fired “in defense of his life.” The chief believes the officer fired two shots.

Thurman crashed the stolen truck into a sign near the entrance of the hotel. The two officers pulled her from the truck and performed CPR. She was taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where she died the same day.

Both officers were treated at local hospitals and released. Per department protocol, both officers are on administrative leave pending an administrative review.

A request for the identities of the officers by the Dayton Daily News was not returned Tuesday. The newspaper also requested police records documenting previous interactions between Thurman and the police department. That request was also not filled Tuesday.

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Porter told media on Monday that Thurman did have previous run-ins with his officers, saying that it was theft and trespassing related incidents.

A background check conducted by the Dayton Daily News shows Thurman had drug-related criminal issues and was facing charges as recently as this year.

The Dayton Daily News reached out to family members of Thurman for comment on Tuesday but didn’t hear back.

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