A Vernon Parish woman was shot and killed by deputies Tuesday night during a standoff that occurred after the woman threatened to harm herself.

According to Sheriff Sam Craft, deputies were called to a residence in Pitkin, in the area of Larry Cook Road, at about 6:52 p.m. Tuesday. He said the call was in reference to a woman threatening to harm herself.

Craft said that when deputies arrived a man exited the residence and told deputies a woman inside — identified as 44-year-old Chantel Myers — was threatening to shoot herself with a firearm.

The man said Myers had already fired one shot inside the residence before deputies arrived, and he handed them a note he said had been written by Myers. Craft said deputies read the note and believed it to be a suicide note.

The deputies at the scene then distanced themselves from the residence and utilized a public address system in an attempt to communicate with Myers, who was still inside the home, Craft said.  Myers remained inside the residence, Craft said, and made verbal threats towards the deputies outside.

After some time, Myers exited the residence armed with a handgun. Deputies positioned themselves behind their patrol units in an effort to protect themselves while still trying to communicate with Myers and deescalate the situation, Craft said.

According to Craft, Myers advanced on the deputies “in an aggressive manner” while continuing to verbally threaten them. Myers placed herself between the two parked patrol units the deputies were using as cover and then raised her gun as she pursued one of the deputies around the vehicle.

In an effort to protect himself, Craft said the deputy fired his weapon and fatally shot Myers.

The scene was processed by VPSO detectives and personnel from the Vernon Parish Coroner’s Office. During the investigation, Craft said detectives learned Myers had been on the phone with a friend just before exiting the residence.

During that phone call, Craft said Myers told her friend there were deputies outside and she was “going to kill the deputies.”

Craft described the event to as “tragic” and said the deputies directly involved have been given time off to allow them to process the incident.

“It is customary and it’s administrative,” Craft said.

Louisiana State Police from Troop E also assisted in the response to the incident.