BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss — We are getting a clearer picture of what happened in the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of two police officers in a Bay St. Louis hotel parking lot.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation now confirms the woman accused of shooting the officers, did not commit suicide.
Bay St. Louis Police Sgt. Steven Robin and Officer Branden Estorffe were called to the Motel 6 on Highway 90 by the hotel’s desk manager early Wednesday morning.
According to the MBI, the manager told the officers a guest by the name of Amy Anderson requested 911be called and she sounded distressed.
And when Robin and Estorffe arrived, Anderson told them she was in fear for her life and that she was being followed by a white pick-up truck.
Her 8-year-old daughter was in the front seat of Anderson’s vehicle.
After speaking with the woman form more than 30-minutes, the officers contacted Child Protective Services due to concerns for the safety of the child.
Anderson, while seated in the driver’s seat of her vehicle allegedly fired one shot killing Sgt. Robin who was standing at the driver’s side door.
Estorffe returned fire.
The MBI said the exchange of bullets killed both Anderson and Estorffe.
The young child did not suffer any physical injuries during the shooting.
“This is a very tragic situation,” said Mississippi Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “It is my opinion that Officer Estorffe and Sergeant Robin’s concerns for the safety of the minor child were well-founded and based upon the mental state of Mrs. Anderson their heroic actions very well may have saved the lives of others.”
Estorffe is from Slidell.
Slidell Police Officer Jason Walden says knowing one of the fallen officers attended Slidell High School like he did, hits close to home.
"He’s a hero,” Walden said. “He did exactly what he signed up to do and it makes me very proud that in that moment that he didn’t even question it.”
Walden says he’s honored to be one of four motorcycle officers from the Slidell Police Department to participate in the funeral procession for both Bay St. Louis police officers.
“Doing those funeral escorts is one of the most humbling and honoring things you get to do as a policeman to be able to honor that person and bring that officer to his final resting place.”
Thursday, at a prayer service for the officers, BSL Police Chief Toby Schwartz said their courage made the community they served a safer place.
“Today, the Bay St. Louis Police Department is broken hearted, and our spirits may be crushed but we who remain will remember our fallen brothers and we will not give up the fight,” Schwartz said.
The funeral for both officers is now scheduled for next Wednesday, December 21.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.