“Any chronic illness is a curse. Schizophrenia is no different – its only ‘saving grace,’ if you will, is that as far as I know it’s not a fatal disease,” wrote Deborah Danner in a 2012 essay describing her mental illness.

On October 18, 2016, 66-year-old Danner was killed inside of her Bronx apartment by New York City police sergeant Hugh Barry. According to police reports, in response to a 911 call regarding a mentally disturbed person, Sgt. Barry arrived to discover Deborah Danner clutching a pair of scissors in the hallway of her apartment building. When he ordered her to drop the scissors, she went into her apartment where Barry followed her and talked her into putting the scissors down. Danner allegedly picked up a baseball bat and swung it at the officer who responded by shooting her twice in her torso. A short time later, Danner was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The eight-year NYPD officer claimed that he feared for his safety.

 On Wednesday, after a two month grand jury investigation, Barry was arrested and charged with second-degree murder with additional charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The investigation revealed that Barry did not avail himself of other options before using deadly physical force. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $100,000 bail. Currently suspended without pay, Barry could face up to life in prison if convicted of murder. In a statement released by the D.A.’s office,  Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark expressed his condolences to the Danner family.

In a chilling 2012 essay Danner, who openly spoke about the potential dangers that often proceed from interacting with law enforcement as a person with mental illness,  said, “We are all aware of the all too frequent news stories about the mentally ill who come up against law enforcement instead of mental health professionals and end up dead.”