12-Yr Old Girl Shot By Mother After Family Denied Food Stamps Updated Facebook During Standoff

Two children are fighting for their lives after their mother shot them this week before killing herself during a standoff at a South Texas welfare office.

Authorities said Tuesday that 12-year-old Ramie Grimmer and her 10-year-old brother, Timothy, were in "very critical" condition at University Hospital in San Antonio. Their 38-year-old mother Rachelle pulled out a gun in a state welfare office and staged a seven-hour standoff after she wasn't able to qualify for food stamps.

The shooting took place at a Texas Department of Health and Human Services building in Laredo, where police said about 25 people were inside at the time. During the standoff, Rachelle Grimmer allegedly told police negotiators a litany of complaints against state and federal government agencies

The woman first applied for food stamps in July but was denied because she didn't turn in enough information, Texas Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman said.
Goodman didn't know what Grimmer specifically failed to provide. In addition to completing an 18-page application, families seeking state benefits also must provide documents proving their information, such as proof of employment and residency.

"We were still waiting, and if we had that, I don't know if she would still qualify or not," Goodman said.

Goodman said Grimmer's last contact with the agency appeared to be a phone call in mid-November. When the family entered the Laredo office on Monday shortly before 5 p.m., Goodman said Grimmer asked to speak to a new caseworker, and not the one whom she worked with previously.

Shortly thereafter, Goodman said, Grimmer was taken to a private room to discuss her case. She said it was there the mother revealed a gun and the standoff began.

Police negotiators stayed on the phone with Grimmer throughout the evening, but she kept hanging up, Laredo police investigator Joe Baeza said.

Despite those complaints, Baeza said it wasn't clear what specifically triggered the standoff.

"This wasn't like a knee-jerk reaction," said Baeza, adding that Grimmer felt she was owed restitution of some sort.

Grimmer let a supervisor go unharmed around 7:45, but stayed inside the office with her children. After hanging up the phone around 11:45, police heard three shots, and police entered the building. Inside, they found Grimmer's body and her two wounded children.

The children were "very critical" and unconscious when taken from the scene, Baeza said.

Goodman credited an office supervisor, a 24-year veteran of the agency, for ensuring the release of the other employees.

"He had told her he would try to help her, and that if she would let everyone else leave, he would talk to her," Goodman said.

Goodman didn't know whether Grimmer had a job, or whether her children were covered under Medicaid welfare services or the state children's health insurance program. The family had no history with the Texas Department of Child Protective Services.

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[andy7666]

@Ieatsouls11 The woman was desperate. Granted, I would not do this either but she should have got some help - there is no reason why anyone should go without in a first World country.. IMO it is a shame that a welfare culture has come into existence but this is almost necessary nowadays with mass immigration, crime, decline in family values and religious differences leaving communities divided, families and individuals isolated - the state turned its back on her.

[andy7666]

@spaceoddyy Technology is supprisingly cheap, and peoples situations can change very quickly.. Its not nice going hungry.

[spaceoddyy]

It's terrible and sad, but honestly if they were that poor, how the in the hell does this girl have a cell phone or whatever to post on Facebook?

[Ieatsouls11]

@trifulquita15 That chick from settle got those by lieing. Somalis dont kill themselves. That lady was weak.

[trifulquita15]

@Ieatsouls11 being stupid is not a crime, she didnt get a job, she was desperate watching her kids barefoot, no school,no food, what future for these kids? The pain of watching their kids living like Somalis must be hard. The state is not stupid but evil. A millionaire woman from Seattle got food stamps but not this family

[Ieatsouls11]

@trifulquita15 This family was killed by a stupid fucking mother. The state didnt do shit....thats the problem!

[oliverlaw02]

@Hachie2 Social darwinism and the record sales in fire arms don't mix.

[hanniyyah83]

Both children have passed away. This is soooooo sad ;-(

[Hachie2]

Ok yall are more worried for the fuckin food stamps then a mother bein so fuckin stupid in killin her two children. J dont get it get a fuckin job instead of food stamps

[thereason4me]

its all about the red tape now because of the government slashing the budget for these programs.....its really a shame