Woman shot by off-duty Galveston officer had been carrying BB gun, witnesses say

Two people who claim to have witnessed the officer-involved fatal shooting of a woman in Galveston, including her boyfriend, said Friday that she was carrying a pink-and-black BB gun shortly before she was shot dead by an off-duty city police officer.

Toni Jo Collins, 36, was shoved against a fence after the BB gun was kicked away, pistol-whipped as she lay on the ground, and then shot after she stood up and faced the officer with a stick in her hand, said her boyfriend, 48-year-old Victor Mangun.

A police spokesman did not immediately respond Friday afternoon to messages seeking comment on Mangun's account.

According to Galveston police, officer Evan Fraley fatally shot Toni Collins, 35, on March 9, 2017. Fraley, 26, was off duty. The Galveston County Sheriff's Office and the Galveston County Distrct Attorney's Office is investigating the shooting. less According to Galveston police, officer Evan Fraley fatally shot Toni Collins, 35, on March 9, 2017. Fraley, 26, was off duty. The Galveston County Sheriff's Office and the Galveston County Distrct Attorney's ... more Photo: Galveston Police Department Photo: Galveston Police Department Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Woman shot by off-duty Galveston officer had been carrying BB gun, witnesses say 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Mangun said he and Collins were arguing in the alley when an SUV came to a sudden stop nearby and a man armed with a pistol jumped out and ordered them to get on the ground. He said the man never identified himself as a police officer.

Details of Mangun's version could not be verified, but a neighbor who witnessed the shooting confirmed that Collins was carrying a BB gun when she went into the alley where she was shot about 6:20 p.m. Thursday. The alley is near the intersection of Broadway Boulevard and 10th Street.

Charles Green, 40, who lives next to the alley where the shooting occurred, said he saw Collins minutes before she was killed and he could clearly see that she was carrying a BB gun and he did not feel threatened.

"I can't fathom why he shot her," Green said. He said he did not realize that the man with a gun was a police officer and never heard him identify himself.

Police identified the officer as K-9 Officer Evan Fraley, 25, a three-year veteran. He has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, Lt. Joshua Shirard said.

The shooting is being investigated by the Galveston County sheriff and district attorney, and a separate internal investigation is underway by Galveston police to determine whether Fraley complied with department policy, Schirard said.

Police said Fraley was leaving a residence with his family on 11th Street and Broadway , when he observed some type of disturbance in a nearby alleyway.

Police investigating shooting in Galveston at 11th & Broadway #KHOU11 pic.twitter.com/v8cqV4GHSK — Grace White (@GraceWhiteKHOU) March 10, 2017

As he approached the scene, Fraley saw a woman brandishing a gun and quickly separated from his family, Schirard said. The police account does not refer to an SUV.

The officer began firing shots at the woman and eventually struck her. She was transported to John Sealy emergency room, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

One of the suspects involved in the disturbance was arrested by police. The officer has been placed on administrative leave.