Jo Cox, a member of the British Parliament representing Batley and Spen, was shot and stabbed to death outside a library in West Yorkshire on Thursday.
She was 41 years old
According to The BBC, Cox intervened after witnessing two men fighting outside.
It doesn’t appear as if Cox has any connection to either of the men, but instead was simply trying to do her civic duty.
The confrontation took place between an unnamed 77-year old and an unnamed 52-year old, with a local cafe owner saying he saw Cox get in between the two men.
He tells The BBC that he heard a “loud popping noise that sounded like a balloon burst – a loud balloon.”
It was a gunshot, however, and he adds:
“He shot this lady once and then he shot her again…
“Somebody tried to grab him, wrestling with him and then he wielded a knife, like a hunting knife, just started lunging at her with a knife half a dozen times.
“People were screaming and running from the area.”
Cox was taken via ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary after the incident. She was initially listed in critical condition, but passed away a short time later.
The 52-year old has been arrested.
Cox was born in Batley and graduated from Cambridge University in 1995; she was elected to her position last year.
Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, spoke out following the incident via Twitter.
“Utterly shocked by the news of the attack on Jo Cox,” he wrote. “The thoughts of the whole Labour Party are with her and her family at this time.”
Cox is survived by her husband and two kids.
