Woman dies day after being shot by police in Gastonia, family says

GASTONIA, N.C. — A woman, who was shot by police Monday, died the next day, family members said. Police said the woman was armed at the time.

The incident happened just after midnight on Mountain Avenue, which is off Linwood Road.

Gastonia police said they were originally called to the home for reports of a drug overdose. When officers got to the house, they said 33-year-old Shae Jones was inside with a gun.

Gastonia police said Officer K. Solano-Garita shot Jones, who was taken to Caromont Regional Medical Center and then flown to Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

Jones’ sister, Ashley Matheson, told Channel 9 that her sister was shot in the chest and neck. She also said Jones had a seizure at the hospital following the shooting. Matheson said her sister struggles with seizures and had just returned home from the hospital Sunday after having an episode.

“Right now she has the mental capacity of a 10-year-old because the seizures are so bad,” Matheson said.

(Shae Jones)

Matheson said her sister was quiet, kind and not the kind of person you would expect to be in trouble with police.

“We just thought, it’s not true, it’s not,” she said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

Matheson said her sister was slated for brain surgery in about a week to try reduce the number of seizures she was having. They were also trying to get her dog trained to detect seizures.

Channel 9 also spoke to Jones’ neighbor Donnie Morgan who said he was floored by the news. He said she often called him “dad”.

“Oh my heart fell to my feet. She is like one of my kids now,” Morgan said.

No officers were hurt, officials said.

Solano-Garita has been placed on administrative leave with pay, which is standard procedure.

The State Bureau of Investigations is looking into the incident.

Gastonia Police said their Office of Professional Standards will also conduct an administrative investigation.

No other information has been released.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

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