Wyoming Mother Shoots Four Daughters Killing Three Before Taking Own Life
A tragic incident in Wyoming occurred when a mother shot her four daughters, killing three, before taking her own life. Two children showed signs of life.
A Wyoming mother shot her four daughters inside their home, killing three of them before turning the gun on herself on Monday, police said.
The 32-year-old mother called dispatchers around 1:30 p.m. Monday reporting that her daughters had been shot and that she believed they were dead, according to a press release from the Big Horn County Sheriff's Office. She told dispatchers where officers would find the bodies of the children.
"Two children would be located upstairs in their cribs and two children would be located downstairs in their shared bedroom," the sheriff's office said.
The woman then told dispatchers that she would shoot herself and could be found in her bedroom. Dispatchers pleaded with the woman to remain on the line until police arrived at the house, the sheriff's office said.
But, the woman said she couldn't stay on the line and that "it was too late."
Quickly after the call disconnected, police arrived at the house located in Byron, Wyoming, a rural town with a population of less than 600.
Police said four children between the ages of 2 and 9 were found with gunshot wounds to the head, and the woman had a single gunshot to the head. Two out of the four children showed signs of life.
Two 2-year-olds and a 9-year-old girl were pronounced dead, while a 7-year-old girl was flown to Billings before being transferred to a hospital in Salt Lake City, where police say her status is unknown.
The woman, who has been identified by local news outlets as Tranyelle Harshman, died in a hospital on Tuesday.
Police did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for more information.
The biological father and stepmother of 9-year-old Bailey and 7-year-old Olivia have set up a GoFundMe. According to a GoFundMe set-up for the victims, both 2-year-olds were half-sisters to Bailey and Olivia.
"Tragedy has struck, leaving us shattered and heartbroken," one of the fundraisers says. "This devastating event has left (father) Cliff (Harshman) and his loved ones reeling in grief, struggling to come to terms with the immense void left in their lives."
In the other GoFundMe, loved ones shared that "Olivia has suffered severe traumatic brain injury and is fighting hard for her life! She is in critical condition; the next few days will be crucial for her outcome."
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY.
