Authorities say a mother, Rajalashni Cannipulphur, 58, and daughter, Aishmakya Santhanakrisnan, 28, were fighting and police arrived on the scene when the daughter started stabbing her mother between 15 and 18 times.
"There was a domestic call. When two officers arrived on the scene, one saw a female clutching a butcher knife and was stabbing her mother, chasing and stabbing her mother," said Stacie Galloway with Morrisville Public Information.
Police say they told Santhanakrisnan to drop the knife and when she didn't, they opened fire.
Residents in the subdivision, say they heard four to five shots.
"I saw the young lady lying on the ground, almost right beside my car. And then I saw the older lady. She was sitting upright but she was on the ground too, right beside the younger girl." Eyewitness, Tommy Clark said.
Both women were taken to /*Wake Med*/, where Santhanakrisnan died. Cannipulphur is in stable condition.
A neighbor says Santhanakrisnan and her husband had parents visiting from India.
Police say Santhanakrisnan was dealing with mental issues. The also say they have never had a domestic call from the residence.
The shooting is under investigation. The officer who fired shots is on administrative duty.
