You won’t walk away confused about what happened: a 34-year-old mother with kidney failure was fatally shot in a targeted attack, and her 10-year-old — who tried to shield her — was also wounded. The attack left a grieving family, a hospitalized child, and urgent questions about domestic violence and community support.
This post breaks down the incident, the timeline of events, and the people involved so you can understand how the violence unfolded and why it mattered. It also looks at the broader impact on the family’s finances and access to care, and where to find help for affected families.
Incident Overview and Key Details
A woman with kidney failure was fatally shot during a targeted attack while a child who tried to shield her suffered nonfatal injuries. The event involved known individuals, a rapid police response, and ties investigators say may link to domestic violence.
Timeline of Events
Witnesses reported the shooting occurred in the late afternoon when the victim returned to a residential property. Neighbors heard multiple gunshots and saw the child, who later identified as having attempted to shield the mother, immediately taken to a nearby porch where bystanders provided first aid.
Emergency calls reached Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department within minutes; officers and medics arrived quickly. The mother was declared dead at the scene after lifesaving measures failed. The child was transported to a hospital with wounds described as nonfatal and treated for trauma and a superficial gunshot wound.
Investigators canvassed the area the same evening, collected shell casings, and reviewed nearby CCTV. Detectives established a timeline from the 911 call logs, witness statements, and preliminary forensic findings to identify potential suspects and motive.
Individuals Involved
The deceased was a woman known to have chronic kidney failure and was receiving regular medical care. Reports connect an individual named Addi Smith to the household as a family acquaintance; law enforcement has questioned persons of interest linked to the residence and recent conflicts.
Tawnia McGeehan appears in public records and social reporting tied to local community groups, though her exact role in the incident remains under investigation. Media coverage and social posts named the mother and referenced her health struggles and status as a caregiver.
The child who intervened is a minor, described by officers as courageous and treated at a hospital; authorities are coordinating with child welfare to ensure safety. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police continue interviewing neighbors and known associates to clarify relationships and motive.
Role of Domestic Violence
Early investigative threads show domestic violence history may have played a role. Sources indicate prior disputes at the home and restraining orders filed in related domestic incidents; detectives are examining whether this shooting was a targeted escalation.
Domestic-violence advocates emphasized the mother’s health vulnerabilities and the heightened risk when abusers target caregivers. Investigators are checking call logs, prior police reports, and protective-order records to establish patterns of coercion or threats leading up to the attack.
Detectives have asked community members to come forward with information about any prior abusive incidents, suspicious visitors, or repeated confrontations at the residence. That evidence will be pivotal in charging decisions and in assessing whether this was an isolated act or part of a longer pattern of abuse.
Immediate Response by Authorities
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers secured the scene and began a homicide investigation immediately upon arrival. Crime-scene technicians photographed evidence, recovered ballistics, and canvassed for surveillance footage from nearby properties.
Medics from the county transported the injured child to a regional hospital while detectives took witness statements at the scene. The department issued an alert to neighboring precincts and coordinated with victim-witness services to provide medical and trauma support to surviving family members.
Investigators asked the public for tips and provided a contact number for leads. They also indicated that ballistic matches and forensic lab results would guide next steps, and promised continued updates as charges were evaluated.
Broader Impact and Support for Victims
This attack left a family grieving, a child recovering from trauma and injury, and a neighborhood confronting safety and financial disruption. Immediate needs include medical care, counseling, legal guidance, and concrete financial assistance for funeral and living expenses.
Community and Family Reactions
Neighbors described shock and heightened concern about safety on the block. Family members organized shifts to care for the surviving child and to handle funeral arrangements for the mother, while asking the community for help with transportation to medical appointments and court dates.
Local churches and a victim-advocacy group coordinated a meal train and child-care volunteers. A neighborhood watch began meeting weekly to review safety measures and to push for increased police patrols. Family spokespeople urged witnesses to come forward and asked for privacy during the investigation.
Media attention brought donations but also intrusive requests; relatives set one trusted contact to handle inquiries. Schools where the child attends offered counseling and adjusted attendance and homework expectations until they could assess the child’s recovery.
Financial and Emotional Aftermath
Medical bills for the injured child and emergency care for the mother accumulate quickly, even with insurance. Funeral costs, travel for family members, and lost income from the mother’s inability to work compound the burden.
Families often face complex paperwork to access victims’ compensation funds and insurance benefits. An advocate can help file claims for emergency grants, Medicaid or CHIP enrollment for the child, and Social Security survivors’ benefits if applicable. Legal aid groups can assist with protective orders and navigating civil claims.
Emotionally, surviving family members may show acute grief, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Short-term crisis counseling is critical; longer-term therapy helps process trauma and rebuild routines. Peer support groups for homicide survivors provide shared experience and practical advice on coping and court attendance.
Resources for Domestic Violence Victims
Immediate crisis support is available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or via chat at the hotline’s website. Advocates there can help with safety planning, local shelter referrals, and legal resources.
Local organizations such as Homicide Survivors, Inc. and RAINN provide grief counseling, advocacy, and practical assistance like help with funeral logistics or emergency financial aid. Victim-witness programs in many prosecutor offices offer court orientation, escort services, and information about victim compensation.
Practical steps for survivors include documenting injuries and threats, saving all communications from the perpetrator, obtaining a medical report and police report, and applying promptly for emergency funds. A trained victim advocate or attorney can guide families through these steps and connect them to community supports.
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