Woman killed by North Branch police identified as 36-year-old mother

The woman fatally shot by North Branch police has been identified as a 36-year-old wife and mother of two.

The North Branch Police Department says it responded to a report of an "intoxicated and suicidal" woman allegedly armed with a handgun at 3rd Avenue and Elm Street on Thursday night.

After arriving at the scene, two officers opened fire – one of them with a pepper ball, and the other with their service firearm – striking the woman, who died at the scene.

A GoFundMe created to support the woman’s family and cover memorial costs identifies her as Jamie Ann Crabtree, 36. Crabtree was a wife and mother of an 11-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son, according to the fundraiser.

“She loved her family, her friends and had such a big heart for animals. She was a very caring person and easy to get along with. She will forever be missed,” the fundraiser read.

Her husband, Nicholas Williams, told the Star Tribune that she had been struggling with mental illness, and said "suicide by cop" was among the comments she had made when he called 911 after she left home with a handgun.

NBPD did not provide details about what prompted the officers to open fire.

Williams didn't witness the moment they fired, but claims that police waited more than 15 minutes after opening fire to render aid, saying they spent that time telling the "lifeless" Crabtree to roll away from her gun.

The two officers involved in the incident were placed on standard leave, and the Minnesota Bureau of Apprehension has taken over its investigation. Body camera footage from the incident was recorded, according to NBPD.

Note: Some of the details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.