Woman attacked Medina County officers with replica gun before sheriff shot her, officials say

MEDINA, Ohio – A woman attacked the Medina County sheriff and a deputy with a replica firearm and a knife on Wednesday before one of the officers shot and killed her, police said.

The shooting occurred after Victoria Carter, 37, of Lafayette Township, parked her car on the sidewalk in front of the sheriff’s office shortly after 6 p.m., Medina Police Chief Edward Kinney said Thursday.

Kinney’s office is investigating the shooting along with state agents.

Moments after Carter parked her car, she was approached by a person entering the sheriff’s office, according to surveillance video released by Kinney.

Carter got out of her car and pushed him, the video shows. The man alerted officers over an intercom that a woman was causing a disturbance in the parking lot, Kinney said.

Carter chased the man briefly before giving up and walking toward the front entrance of the building.

Sheriff Terry Grice and Deputy Doug Clinage arrived shortly afterward. Kinney said Grice and Clinage ordered Carter to drop their weapons. However, there is no audio on the surveillance video, so it is unclear what was said during the encounter.

Carter put the replica down briefly before picking it up and running toward officers, surveillance footage shows. She stopped a few feet away from officers as Clinage stunned Carter with his Taser, but it had “no effect,” Kinney said. Carter did not react, according to the video, and it’s unclear if she was even hit.

After a brief pause, Carter picked up the replica firearm and charged the officers again, the video shows. Grice then fired his service weapon, fatally wounding Carter, according to Kinney and the footage.

Police are still investigating how many shots were fired. The surveillance video police showed reporters ended at the exact moment Grice pulled the trigger.

It’s unclear if there is bodycam video because Medina police have not released it. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer requested it Thursday.

“It is impossible to tell in a split second whether a replica is a firearm or not,” Kinney said, adding that “any reasonable officer” would have acted similarly.

Steve Irwin, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office, confirmed that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been asked for help in the case and is assisting Medina police. He did not provide further details, citing an “active and ongoing” investigation.

Although the initial press release from Medina County stated that Carter was carrying a gun, BCI investigators later determined that it was merely a replica of the weapon, Kinney said.

It’s unclear why Carter was with the sheriff. Carter had no personal connection to the two police officers or the civilian who approached their car, Kinney said.

However, Carter’s boyfriend, whose identity police did not determine, is being held in the Medina County Jail, Kinney said.

This is not the first time police have dealt with Carter. Officers have responded to several calls requesting that Carter’s mental health be evaluated, Kinney said.

“It’s absolutely tragic,” Kinney said.

Grice became sheriff of Medina County in 2021. He was unopposed in the November general election. He has been a police officer for 25 years, according to the agency’s website.