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This is the moment a cop dressed as a 'bad guy' shot a 73-year-old mother dead during a role play exercise - because he loaded live rounds instead of blanks.

Officer Lee Coel killed retired librarian Mary Knowlton by 'mistake' in front of 34 people during the demonstration in Punta Gorda, Florida, on Tuesday night.

The aim of the class was to teach people when not to shoot.  

He fired the fatal round while dressed in a gray hooded sweatshirt and black ski mask - in a bid to look like a 'criminal'.

Mrs Knowlton was picked from the audience to play the 'victim' during the scenario.

Coel then shot her in the shoulder and the chest, thinking he was firing blanks. But when those watching saw blood, they knew something was wrong. 

Her husband Gary, who she had been married to for 55 years, watched as volunteers turned her lifeless body over to reveal the horrific injuries. 

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Police officer Lee Coel was captured as he accidentally shot and killed community volunteer Mary Knowlton, because he loaded his gun with live rounds instead of blanks. He was dressed as a 'criminal' during the role play incident where the tragic incident occured 

 

 

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Mrs Knowlton is seen holding a gun just moments before she was shot dead during the 'shoot/don't shoot' exercise in Punta Gorda, Florida 

 

 

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An officer hands Mrs Knowlton a gun during the exercise as other members of the community watch. The aim of the class was to advise people when to shoot and when not to shoot

John Wright told NBC News: 'We all thought that this was part of the theater, we all thought it was expected.

'When she went to the floor I think we all realized the severity of what we'd all witnessed.'

Officer Coel, who has worked for the department since March 2014, has been been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. 

In a statement, the police department said: 'Officer Coel is frequently seen throughout our community providing department presentations and tours and specifically role-playing in these shoot/don’t shoot scenarios as well as a police presence at youth and neighborhood events.

'Officer Coel remains on administrative leave while the investigation into this incident gathers more details into how this tragedy happened. 

'Like the rest of our community, Officer Coel is devastated by what happened and is receiving assistance from our department and the Police Benevolent Association at this time.'