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The woman pointed her gun at the heads of multiple customers while screaming incoherently at the Guitar Center in the Metroplex Shopping Center, 2620 Chemical Road, the Plymouth Township Police Department said.
Some customers managed to flee from the store while others were hiding within, according to police.
Officers arrived on scene and were immediately confronted by the woman as she exited the store with gun in hand at 1:59 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, police said.
Parts of the confrontation were captured on officer body and vehicle cameras, which police shared on YouTube.
The woman refused to listen to officers who repeatedly told her to drop the gun, according to police. She pointed the weapon at officers several times during the confrontation.
After several minutes, the woman laid down on the sidewalk with the gun next to her, police said. She remained unresponsive to commands but laid prone in a position of surrender, allowing officers to arrest her.
A .38 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol was recovered from the scene, according to police. The firearm was loaded with eight rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber.
The woman was taken to Montgomery County Emergency Services, Building 50 for evaluation, police said. Charges were filed against the woman, but her name isn't being released due to the sensitive nature of the incident.
Police ask anyone who may have cell phone video of this incident to contact Detective Sergeant Chris Schwartz at the Plymouth Township Police Department at 610-279-1901.
The Whitemarsh Police Department and Plymouth Community Ambulance Association assisted on the scene.
"We are incredibly proud of our officers who showed tremendous restraint during this incident," the Plymouth Township Police Department said. "Their handling of this incident is a testament to the training that each officer undertakes to deal with emotionally disturbed individuals."
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