Woman with Asperger's syndrome who shared emotional dog video was killed by police

MESA, Ariz. — A woman shot and killed by Phoenix-area police after they say she charged them with a knife had posted a popular online video last year in which her dog tries to comfort her as she cries.

Police in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa say several officers went to 24-year-old Danielle Jacobs' home Thursday in response to calls about a suicidal person. Authorities say two officers shot the woman when she lunged toward them with a knife.

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Her 2015 video shows Jacobs sobbing and striking herself while her dog, Samson, tries to comfort her. Her description of the video said it showed what it's like to have Asperger's syndrome. Asperger's is on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum.

According to KTVK, it was Samson's ability to help calm her down that melted hearts. The pup was a rescue dog, and Jacobs trained him, transforming him into a service dog.

The officer-involved shooting of Jacobs is under investigation.
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