13-Year-Old Kills Mother, Turns Himself in to Police
Gretchen Crooks Remembered Fondly
A 13-year-old boy in Iowa has killed his mother and turned himself in to police, officials report. Details of the case are still emerging, but no charges have yet been filed.
Police have identified the shooter as 13-year-old Noah Crooks and the victim as his mother, Gretchen. Authorities have reported that Noah shot and killed his mother before calling 911 to report the incident. When police arrived, they took Noah into custody without any incident. He is currently being held at the North Iowa Juvenile Detention Center.
"The emotion of the young man, from what I've been told, is his demeanor was very calm and kind of stoic. Almost like he was in shock," Deputy Greg Beaver told KTTC news agency.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Crooks' family is speaking out about Gretchen's death and have said that they are in shock as well.
"We have lost our daughter, we have lost our grandson," said Gretchen's mother Beverly Braham. "She was working on her master's degree" and studying "full time while she was working full time," Braham said in a press conference.
Gretchen was a nurse at the local Mercy Medical Center while studying to obtain her master's degree in nursing.
"Gretchen was a great nurse and leader. We, as members of her Mercy family, continue to mourn for her and will be holding a memorial service. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family and friends," Mercy officials said in a statement.
Not much is being said about why Noah killed his mother or what his state of mind was at the time of the shooting, but his friends are aware of the situation. Reports state that Osage Community Schools would have counselors available should any student feel the need to talk about the situation.
"It's gut-wrenching, you know?" said Osage Superintendent Steve Bass. "It's always tough in a small community when anyone dies for any reason, but then you hear that a student is involved in any shape or form. It kind of goes to another level," Bass told ABC.
