Great Stories On CBS13.com
Dec 16, 2009 10:34 am US/Pacific
Woman Killed At Modesto School Identified
Teacher: "I heard, 'Drop it drop it drop it'..."
MODESTO (CBS13) ―
Modesto Police have released the identity of a woman who was shot and killed by police at a Modesto elementary school yesterday afternoon.
The woman had been identified as 43-year-old Elizabeth Catherine Kropp of Modesto. Kropp was shot yesterday on the campus of Catherine Everett Elementary School on Mount Vernon Drive. Police say Kropp had a butcher's knife when she walked onto the school campus near a playground while children were playing and began hitting herself in the head with the knife and cutting herself. The school's principal was able to distract the woman and protect the children for about three minutes until police officers arrived.
When the first two police officers on the scene approached the Kropp, she charged at them, according to the Modesto police department, forcing them to fire. She later died from two gunshot wounds to the head.
Police say Kropp lived near the school. Their early investigation suggests she has mental health problems and they believe she may have been trying to commit "suicide by cop".
Counselors and police officers were back at the school today to help calm fears and answer questions. Police say some kids may have seen Kropp with the knife but none of the students witnessed the shooting.
However, they may have heard the incident. Teacher Jennifer Doyle said she heard the school's lockdown alarms before the shooting and ordered the children in her classroom to take cover under their desks, even though she was uncertain if it was part of a drill.
"I closed the door and started walking back to where they [the students] were… I heard, 'Drop it drop it drop it,' and I heard, immediately, gunshots," she said. "Four or five gunshots."
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Busting The Mythbusters
More Local News
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments