shot dead in DC

[Aliantha]

Info about the woman who was shot dead today in DC is sketchy here, but i dont get why they killed her. There was a child in the car too. Any deeper insight from those in the know?

[limey]

It's a story that mysteriously disappeared from the BBC news website ...
[correction]
Here it is on the Beeb

[glatt]

She was trying to run down police officers during the chase. They don't like that.

[orthodoc]

My understanding from multiple news sources is: she apparently either rammed or pulled right up to a barricade at the White House; when approached by Secret Service officers, she reversed and made a turn that hit an officer. He had to be airlifted to a hospital. She then headed at high speed toward the Capitol. At one point she was surrounded and stopped, but again reversed, hitting a patrol car, and drove at officers before heading further toward the Capitol at high speed. No shots were fired until after she had escaped the stop and continued heading for the Capitol at speed. Seven shots were fired then. I believe more shots were fired once she crashed near the Capitol. Officers didn't know there was a child in the car until it was all over.

Apparently she was a 34 year old dental hygienist with a history of post-partum depression within the past year, for which she'd been hospitalized. There's no way to know yet whether her depression played a role in the tragedy, but PP depression has psychotic features more often than other types.

This is just horrible. But I think the officers did their best to resolve the crisis without shooting, until she rammed a cruiser and continued at speed toward the Capitol. They had no information on who was in the car or what the intent was; they could only assume a worst-case scenario.

[glatt]

And this is all in a climate where we just had a mass murder in a government facility a week or two ago a mile away.

[sexobon]

Were any children endangered during that incident?

[Lamplighter]

Duh... bullets were fired, weren't there ?

[sexobon]

Hahahaha! You senile old people are so amusing with your tunnel vision.

I'm referring to the practice of people who go on a rampage taking children with them. From the stories I've come across, it seems that women are more likely than men to take children with them, by a wide margin.

[Sundae]

True. Men just kill their kids because the monther leaves them.

[sexobon]

It seems women are more likely to murder their children just before they commit suicide.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by sexobon

It seems women are more likely to murder their children just before they commit suicide.

...because only a man would try to figure out how to do it afterward.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by sexobon

From the stories I've come across, it seems that women are more likely than men to take children with them, by a wide margin.

Crazy women almost by definition do not have the social supports that would enable them access to child care. The kid is with them by default, not because they say, "Hey, I should choose to involve my child in something that I understand is crazy."

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Crazy women almost by definition do not have the social supports that would enable them access to child care. The kid is with them by default, not because they say, "Hey, I should choose to involve my child in something that I understand is crazy."

You make a strong argument for prophylactically taking their children away from them in view of this social ill. Well done.

[Perry Winkle]

Originally Posted by sexobon

You make a strong argument for prophylactically taking their children away from them in view of this social ill. Well done.

That's not the first argument I would make given Clodfobble's post. I would first argue for universal, non-judgmental support. If you fear being mentally ill will necessarily mean you have to give up your kids then you won't seek treatment. The only social ill I see here is stigmatizing sick people in need of health care.

[Sundae]

Sexo I massively disagree. At least in this country.

Also I'd add that when a child dies of neglect or abuse there is usually a new partner/ step-dad involved. In no way exonerating the mother, just saying how I read it/ view it time and time and time again.

Clod read my post in Unhappy thread.
Incapable woman who was incapable of allowing help to be given.
On a bottle of vodka a day. I came close to those depths, but I looked after Diz (barely in the bad times.) How much more work is a child when you're at that level?