A woman in the US state of Florida has fatally shot and killed her 27-year-old daughter  after mistaking her for an intruder, police say.

According to police officer Sergeant Denise Roberts, the incident occurred in Saint Cloud, central Florida on late Tuesday night when the sleeping woman woke up hearing a noise and saw a figure coming toward her quickly and not saying anything.

“The homeowner fired one round at the subject,” Roberts said in a news release. “The subject was later identified as the homeowner’s daughter.”

The daughter, named Ashley Doby, was reportedly taken to a hospital, where she died and the mother was also taken to the same hospital.

“The homeowner’s story is consistent with the physical evidence and the witness’ statement,” the release states. "At this time, the incident appears to be an accidental shooting; however, the investigation is ongoing and it is considered to be an open investigation."

The Police Department asked that media outlets not publish the names of the shooter and her husband, because the man was a police officer who had previously worked undercover.

The victim’s mother also works as an Osceola County Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatcher.