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Suicidal woman, mother who called police die in shooting

  • Story Highlights
  • Barbara Baker died at the scene; daughter, Penny Schwartz, 51, died at hospital
  • Baker had called police, said Schwartz was trying to shoot herself, police say
  • When officer arrived, Baker said Schwartz had said she wanted "police to shoot her"
  • Pair shot after Schwartz pointed gun at officer, police say
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ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- A 75-year-old suburban Atlanta woman who called police for help was shot and killed during a confrontation between the officer who responded and her suicidal daughter, police said Wednesday.

Barbara Baker of Duluth died at the scene Tuesday night, and her daughter, Penny Schwartz, 51, died overnight at a hospital, according to the Gwinnett County Police Department.

In her call for help, Baker said her daughter was trying to shoot herself, according to a police department news release. But when a police officer arrived, Baker told him her daughter had been saying "that she wanted the police to shoot her."

As Baker talked to the officer inside the home, Schwartz "came downstairs and ... pointed a gun at the responding officer," the release said.

"The officer opened fire and the mother and daughter [were] shot," it said.

"The exact circumstances of how the mother was shot are unknown at this time and this incident is under investigation," police said.

The officer -- a 10-year veteran -- has been placed on "routine administrative leave" while the incident is under investigation, police said.

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