PUNTA GORDA, Fla. -- The City of Punta Gorda has reached a financial settlement with the family of a librarian who was tragically killed during a citizen's academy class in August.
Punta Gorda Police Officer Lee Coel accidentally shot Mary Knowlton with live rounds, instead of blanks, during a lethal-force demonstration at the police department.
The Knowlton family will receive payments from two sources: $2 million from a city insurance policy, and $60,234.23 from the city's damage recovery fund.
The city manager says the settlement was reached this week, and the city council is expected to approve it Wednesday.
Meanwhile the State Attorney is still reviewing findings by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to decide whether to seek criminal charges in this case.
