The woman killed yesterday after a high speed chase through the nation’s capital suffered from post-partum depression.

Miriam Carey, 34, died after police shot her on the scene. The incident led to a lock down of Capitol Hill.

Carey, a dental hygienist from Stamford, Conn., is described by authorities as having a mental illness, after finding medication for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in her home.

From ABC:

“She had post-partum depression after having the baby” last August, said the woman’s mother, Idella Carey. “A few months later, she got sick. She was depressed. … She was hospitalized.” Carey had a 1-year-old daughter named Erica, her mother said. Police confirmed that a 1-year-old girl was taken from the car and put in “protective custody.” Idella Carey said her daughter had “no history of violence” and she did not know why she was in Washington, D.C. She said she believed Carey was taking the little girl to a doctor’s appointment today in Connecticut.

Read more at ABC

Law enforcement officials stated that Carey may have thought President Obama was stalking her.

Carey eluded a police car after it stopped her for attempting to ram her vehicle through a White House gate. She ultimately rammed a police car and was shot by police.

Two officers were injured in the incident. No weapons were found in the car.

Thoughts on the news?

Some people feel that police “rushed” to kill the suspect and could have stopped her by sparing her life. Did the police handle the situation appropriately?

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ABC News’ Michael S. James contributed to this report.