A family was torn apart when a husband allegedly shot three women, fatally shooting two before turning the gun on himself during a reported murder-suicide that occurred May 18. Christopher Smith, 51, is accused of killing his wife, Penny Smith, 50, and her daughter, 29-year-old Kristy C. Thow, in the Piper neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas.
Multiple children witnessed the horrific crime from inside a van outside the home, Fox 4 KC reported. The Kansas City Police Department issued a news release detailing the tragedy. According to police, officers were dispatched to a home around 11 p.m. after receiving a report of gunshots. When they arrived, they discovered what they believe was a murder-suicide.
More from CafeMom: Young Woman Regains Consciousness After Surviving Mother's Murder-Suicide Plot
Three women were found outside the home.
KCK police reported that Thow, Penny Smith, and a third woman, later identified on social media as Yuna Thow, were all outside the home with critical injuries. They were taken to a local hospital, where Kristy Thow later died. Police announced Monday that Penny Smith had succumbed to her injuries as well. Christopher Smith was found dead inside the house Thursday evening.
The family claimed Christopher Smith was abusive.
According to a post on a GoFundMe page, Christopher Smith was a "crazed domestic abuser." Melissa Dennis, Penny Smith's sister, who organized the fundraiser, spoke highly of her sister and niece. Melissa Dennis claimed that Kristy Thow was a hero.
"Kristy was shot multiple times protecting the life of her sister and her mom, my sister, from a crazed domestic abuser. My sister, Penny, and Kristy's little sister, both are fighting for their lives in the hospital as I write this heart wrenching story," she wrote on the page. "Kristy is survived by her daughter Camilla. Kristy was a single mom. raising Camilla and helping raise her sisters children. She had a heart of gold and lived life to the fullest! She will be missed."
The posting was updated Monday to announce Penny Smith's death.
Yuna Thow said she was OK.
She has identified herself as the fourth victim in the deadly shooting. She wrote on Facebook that many had figured out she was the final victim and wanted to ease their minds.
"i just wanted to let everyone know that i'm okay and that i'm recovering. i don't have much to say at the moment so i only ask that you please be patient with me as i'm both recovering and grieving intensively," she wrote in her post. "thanks for all the warm love and care the past few days."
Family and friends are in disbelief over the tragedy.
Steven Dennis, Kristy Thow's Uncle, believes she was trying to protect her sister. "Kristy reached over and shielded her sister from the bullets and took many herself. She ultimately died at the scene," he told FOX 4 KC.
The concerned uncle wants to be sure that all children involved are cared for. "These children deserve a better life, and that's our goal is to help them in the future," he said. "[We'll] make sure that they understand that they're loved, and we'll always be there for them."
In a rather foreboding way, Penny Smith's last public Facebook post was a video of Lady Gaga's song "Always Remember Us This Way," posted on May 18, just hours before the shooting.
More from CafeMom: 'Psychedelic' Doctor Allegedly Kills Himself & Teen Son in Shocking Murder-Suicide
Domestic violence statistics in the US are sobering.
It may not come as a surprise, but domestic violence is rampant in the United States. Statistics from Shelter House Domestic & Sexual Violence state that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. An estimated 1.3 million women are physically assaulted by a partner each year, the organization notes. Sadly, most cases are never reported to the police. Deaths by domestic violence occur in the US each day.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic abuse, you can find help and support at DVIS.org, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or by contacting your local women's shelter (domesticshelters.org).
