Melissa Montoya

The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Punta Gorda police officer who shot and killed 73-year-old Mary Knowlton during a public training presentation has been fired.

Officer Lee Coel, who had been placed on administrative leave after the Aug. 9 incident, was notified he would be fired effective Friday. The state attorney's office filed felony manslaughter charges against Coel on Feb. 22.

Knowlton, a well-liked retired librarian, volunteered to participate in a "shoot/don't shoot" scenario where Coel was playing the "bad guy." Coel shot her several times with a weapon that was supposed to have blanks.

Knowlton was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital where she later died.

Coel, according to a City letter, can appeal his firing. He is also entitled to a liberty interest hearing, a public hearing where Coel has the opportunity to clear his name.

Messages left for Coel at a phone number listed under his name went unreturned Thursday night.

He has 10 days to arrange the name-clearing hearing, according to the letter.

Punta Gorda police Chief Tom Lewis faces a culpable negligence charge, a misdemeanor, for his part in the incident and is still on administrative leave.

Punta Gorda city council approved a $2.06 million settlement with Knowlton's family last November.

Coel, 28, came to the Punta Gorda Police Department in March 2014. He was asked to resign from his first job at the Miramar Police Department in Broward County. He resigned amid two internal affairs investigations against him alleging excessive force.

Coel received positive reviews before Knowlton's death. Coel has pleaded not guilty, according to the Charlotte County Clerk of Court.

Related:

Woman shot by police during citizen academy roleplay dies

Her death made national news, but who was Mary Knowlton in life?

Police chief, officer charged after retired librarian accidentally shot to death at a citizen’s academy demonstration

Cop who killed woman at community police event quit previous job

Follow Melissa Montoya on Twitter: @MelissaMontoyaO