A Howard police officer shot a 62-year-old woman Wednesday when he felt physically threatened by her during a call for a mental subject in Columbia, Howard police said.

Pearl Wardell Harris was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore City with a gunshot wound that did not appear life-threatening, police said.

Property managers called police to the 8600 block of Snowden River Parkway about 4:20 p.m. for complaints that Harris was creating a disturbance, police said.

Harris was in her apartment “acting erratically,” and police called for the mental health Mobile Crisis Team, police said.

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While officers were speaking with Harris, they felt physically threatened, and one officer fired a single shot at Harris’ lower torso, police said.

A knife was seized from the scene, police said.

The officer will be placed on administrative leave, which is the department’s policy when a police-involved shooting occurs.

cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com