[Pointman]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

Something like that was my first thought, too. I'll take at least a phone call per tour of someone scared out of their mind with someone knocking at their door. 99% of the time, it's been some persistent but misguided drunk who's found the wrong door to their house or their buddies house and can't understand why no one is answering the door.

The person calling is in various states of fear, up to histrionics or outright panic, unable to understand why someone might be knocking at their door.

So we have a mother, scared for herself and her child, who called her boyfriend, may not have known her boyfriend called the police.

Police show up and do a walk around the yard to see if they can find anyone which is pretty standard. They don't find anyone. The mom is inside, unaware police are coming, but now she can hear someone walking around the house. Again.

Officer knocks on the door to make contact with her and explain they've walked around and can't see anyone. Mother hears that, and decides that she's going to defend herself and her child. Grabs a kitchen knife, throws open the door and blindly lashes out with the knife.

The rest is a tragedy, no matter what happens.

~~
I've already taken a call like this tonight. This is why, when I get a call like this, I don't hang up until the officer and the caller are talking to each other.

Your post makes perfect sense except for the bolded part. Once police is on the scene and says there's no one around, why would she blindly lash out with the knife?