Woman killed during police academy exercise in Florida

PUNTA GORDA, FL -- Police in Florida say a woman has been accidentally shot to death by an officer during a citizens academy exercise.

Multiple media outlets report that Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis says Mary Knowlton was taking part in a roleplaying scenario Tuesday when she was "mistakenly struck with a live round."

VIDEO: Police chief describes circumstances behind woman's death

Officials discuss the death of a woman in Florida during a police exercise.

Lewis says Knowlton was chosen from about 35 people in the class for a "shoot/don't shoot" simulation. He says she was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The officer involved has not been identified and is on administrative leave pending a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, Lewis says.

Raw video at the scene of woman's death in Florida

Raw video shows the scene where a woman died during a Florida police exercise.