On a cold December day in Stillwater, Minnesota, the life of Trudy Propps, a 62-year-old White/Caucasian woman, came to a tragic and violent end. On December 11, 2009, what began as a call for medical assistance spiraled into a deadly domestic dispute that left both Trudy and her husband, Gerald Propps, dead. The events of that day unfolded in a harrowing sequence, forever altering the lives of their family and the responding officer.
The incident began when Trudy Propps placed a 911
call, concerned for her 62-year-old husband's health. She reported that he was dehydrated, in need of nutrition, and was not in his right mind. However, the situation quickly escalated. While on the phone with the dispatcher, Gerald Propps shot his wife in the back. Trudy’s daughter, who was present, managed to drag her mother out of the apartment as she continued to communicate with the 911 operator.
When Stillwater Police Officer Bradley Allen arrived at the apartment complex, he discovered Trudy Propps lying in the hallway with her daughter by her side. As he entered the apartment, he was confronted by Gerald Propps, who was armed with a semi-automatic handgun and refused commands to drop his weapon. The situation intensified when Gerald fired his gun through a wall. In response to the immediate threat, Officer Allen returned fire, fatally wounding Gerald Propps.
Trudy Propps was transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, but she ultimately succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead a few hours after the incident began. Her daughter also sustained injuries during the traumatic event. The suspect in Trudy's death was her husband, Gerald, who was killed at the scene by the police. Following an investigation into the officer-involved shooting, a grand jury determined that Officer Bradley Allen's use of deadly force was justified.
