Friend Says Victim Who Died In Fort Bliss Shooting Was Not Intended Target

It appears the shooter’s victims were innocent bystanders.

ABC-7 has learned the shooter was looking for his ex-girlfriend, who wasn’t even there at the time.

Retired Army Sgt. Steven Kropf walked into a shopette on Fort Bliss on Monday afternoon and shot two civilian female workers in their heads. Bettina Maria Goins, 44, died of her wound. The other victim remains in the hospital. Kropf was shot and killed by law enforcement guards on post.

Goins’ daughter said her mom was at the Cassidy store doing some paperwork after the internet wasn’t working at her store. Goins was also picking up some more Halloween candy to take back.

The 44-year-old mother and grandmother had recently been promoted to manager of another convenience store on post.

“She was a very hard worker she was dedicated to her work,” said Maria Laura Nasti, Goins’ daughter.

The hard worker also had a passion for horses, as it could be seen throughout her home.

“If she wasn’t too busy cleaning the pool, she was riding horses, cleaning them, feeding them,” said Nasti.

Her other passion was her family – the two children and two grandchildren she took care of.

Even though she wasn’t feeling very well on Monday, Goins still made it to work.

“She wanted to go home, she had a summer-cold and she wanted to lay in bed, ” said Nasti.

Nasti said Kropf called the shopette, asking for the manager, who was his ex-girlfriend. She wasn’t there at the time.

The other victim shot, who hasn’t been identified, told him she couldn’t give him any information.

Shortly after, Kropf went to the store and started shooting.

”She was just there being an innocent by-stander, ” said Nasti.

ABC-7 stopped by Kropf’s home in the Northeaset where a light was on, but no one was there.

Goins’ friend also said she used to work with Kropf and said he had been fired from his job at another convenience store for chasing a suspect after a beer run. She described him as a mean man with a temper.

“She was the most amazing person that I could think of, ” said Nasti.