Authorities have identified the woman and police officer involved in a fatal police shooting earlier this week in Ocean County.

The state Attorney General’s Office said the woman who was killed was Susanne Clarke, 55, of Lacey. The officer who fired his weapon was identified as Lacey Township Police Officer Dallas Gant.

According to a preliminary investigation, officers were dispatched shortly after 2 a.m. March 16 to a home on Hemlock Drive near Birch Road in the Lanoka Harbor section of Lacey Township in response to a 911 call reporting a medical event.

Authorities said that during an encounter with Clarke outside the home at approximately 2:44 a.m., Gant fired his service weapon, striking her. Clarke was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:24 a.m.

A knife was recovered at the scene outside the residence, officials said.