A family has been plunged into grief after two young stepsisters were tragically shot and killed on Christmas Eve, leaving a community reeling and a two-year-old child without her mother.
The victims, identified as 19-year-old Kayden Lynch and 18-year-old Madison Daly, were discovered at their home in Beulah, Alabama.
Authorities responding to reports of gunfire pronounced both women dead at the scene.
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Law enforcement has arrested Jalen Dashawn Holmes, an 18-year-old neighbor of the victims, in connection with the shootings.
Holmes, now held in Lee County Jail without bond, faces multiple charges, including capital murder.
Reports suggest the incident followed an alleged assault by Holmes on his own mother earlier that day.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a distress call about gunfire at approximately 3:48 p.m. on December 24.
When deputies arrived, they were directed to the victims’ residence, where they discovered Lynch and Daly unresponsive and fatally injured.
Authorities also noted that two nine-year-old twin girls had been at the home earlier but had left before the tragic events unfolded.
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover funeral expenses and provide support for Madison Daly’s young daughter, Nevaeh.
Organized by Kathleen Kirby, the fundraiser has already garnered significant support, with donations reaching £4,500 ($5,650 USD) out of a targeted £10,360 ($13,000 USD).
“With heavy hearts, we share the tragic news: Kayden Lynch, age 19, and Madison Daly, age 18, were shot and killed on Christmas Eve,” Kirby wrote in the campaign description.
She described the profound loss felt by family and friends and emphasized the need for justice for what she called a senseless act of violence.
Part of the funds will go toward Nevaeh’s future needs.
The community continues to mourn as investigators work to piece together the circumstances surrounding the shootings.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the investigation remains active.
The tragedy has left a lingering impact on all who knew the victims, who are remembered as vibrant young women taken far too soon.
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