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Family says woman has died after being shot by Gastonia police responding to reported overdose

Gastonia Police were responding to a reported overdose when they encountered an armed woman in a home. The woman's family says she has died.

GASTONIA, N.C. — One person has died after being shot by police in Gastonia early Monday morning, the woman's family confirms. Police confirmed the woman was taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries. Tuesday, family members shared on social media that she had died. 

According to Gastonia Police, officers were responding to a reported overdose in the 1200 block of Mountain Avenue a little after midnight Sunday night. When officers arrived, they encountered a woman with a gun inside the home. 

One of the officers shot the woman, who was later identified as 33-year-old Shae Estelle Jones. It's unclear at this time what led up to the shooting. Gastonia Police said Jones was rushed to CaroMont Regional Medical Center before being airlifted to Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. 

Ashley Matheson, Jones' older sister, said Jones had been released from the hospital Sunday after suffering three serious seizures, and she was scheduled to have surgery later this week.

"None of it makes sense," Matheson said, "I would love to know what really happened."

Donnie Morgan lives across the street from Jones.

"The whole road out here was blocked with police cars and ambulances," Morgan recalled.

He said he and his wife treated Jones as their own daughter.

He said Jones had weapons in the house, but she never came across as violent.

"It's shocking," Jones said. "She's a real nice person. She's never given no trouble to nobody."

Matheson said her sister leaves behind two young children.

"I just need everybody to pray," Matheson said Monday. "If you pray, please pray that she pulls through because she's not ready to leave this world."

Gastonia Police have called in the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to handle the case. The officer involved in the shooting, Officer K. Solano-Garita, has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure. Gastonia Police said they were conducting a separate investigation to ensure all department policies were followed in addition to the SBI investigation. 

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