Florida woman, 73, is accidentally shot and killed in front of 34 people during 'Citizen Police Academy' training exercise

Mary Knowlton, 73, was taking part in Citizen Academy when she was shot
During a demo, an officer shot a gun at her, meant to 'simulate lethal force'
The officer was supposed to fire a blank but live rounds were loaded in gun
A photographer at the event said the officer fired multiple times
Knowlton was taken to Lee Memorial in Fort Myers, Florida, where she died
Officers said the shooting was 'horrible accident' and is being investigated

By Kalhan Rosenblatt For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: 04:07 GMT, 10 August 2016 | Updated: 06:34 GMT, 10 August 2016

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Mary Knowlton (pictured), 73, was taking part in a role-playing scenario Tuesday when she was 'mistakenly struck with a live round' and killed on Tuesday night

A Florida woman has been accidentally shot to death in front of 34 people by an officer during a citizens academy exercise, according to Punta Gorda police.

Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis says Mary Knowlton, 73, was taking part in a role-playing scenario Tuesday when she was 'mistakenly struck with a live round'.

Lewis says Knowlton was chosen randomly from about 35 people in the class for a 'shoot/don't shoot' simulation during the Citizen Police Academy at the station headquarters.

Sue Paquin, a photographer covering the event for the Charlotte Sun, witnessed the accident and told the Fort Myers News-Press the officer fired at Knowlton, who was playing the 'bad guy' during the scenario, several times.

The officer was supposed to fire blanks at Knowlton, but live rounds were loaded in the gun, according to WINK News.

Knowlton's class met at the Punta Gorda Police Department around 5.30pm and the shooting occurred just before 7pm.

Knowlton was chosen randomly from about 35 people in the class for a 'shoot/don't shoot' simulation during the Citizen Police Academy (pictured) at the station headquarters

The demo 'used simulated lethal force' to teach the class about making critical decisions, WINK News reported.

Knowlton was struck with the live round during the 'first scenario', according to the department, and was rushed to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers - approximately 30 minutes away.

She was later pronounced dead.

Lewis called the shooting a 'horrible accident'.

'Our entire police department and all of our city leaders are absolutely devastated for everyone involved in this unimaginable event.

Knowlton was struck with the live round during the 'first scenario', according to the department, and was rushed to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers

Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis (pictured) called the shooting a 'horrible accident'

'I am asking that if you pray, you pray for Mary's husband and family and for all the officers and witnesses that involved this incident.

'Everyone involved is in an overwhelming state of shock and grief,' he said during a press conference on Tuesday night.

The officer involved has not been identified and is on administrative leave pending a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, Lewis says.

The academy, where the shooting occurred, is a free eight-session course offered to 35 people at a time who are interested in learning local civics, Punta Gorda's website says.