Sparks officers killed woman in self-defense, Reno police say

RENO -- Reno police said two Sparks police officers who shot and killed a 60-year-old grandmother were defending themselves after the woman retrieved a handgun and shot at them.

Authorities said the officers were checking the welfare of a 7-year-old child after his father called police on Saturday, worried about the behavior of the grandmother, Kathleen Daily, the legal guardian for the child.

The child's father and his wife had gone to Daily's home to return the child to her. Police said the father told police that he was worried about the child's welfare.

Police said Daily's neighbors and family said she had become increasingly delusional during the time before the shooting, and had bought a gun.

Also, authorities had been investigating possible parental misconduct by the child's grandfather, reported by Daily.

Police said the officers were talking to Daily on Saturday for 15 minutes when she got the handgun from a kitchen, returned to the living room and fired, grazing one officer's uniform around the shoulder.

Police said the woman was shot three times.

Both officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave while the Washoe County district attorney's office investigates, authorities said.

The officers' names were withheld Sunday and expected to be released today.