A tragic case of domestic violence unfolded in West Palm Beach, Fla., where a woman was fatally shot by her ex-boyfriend while on a FaceTime call with friends. The West Palm Beach Police Department responded to a 911 call on Wednesday night at approximately 9:40 p.m. to discover Kelvi McCray, 18, with gunshot wounds to the head, back, and neck, as WPBF reported.
Keisean Shaw, 19, identified as McCray's estranged boyfriend and the gunman, was also found at the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, the police department said. While McCray passed away soon after reaching Saint Mary’s Medical Center, Shaw died from his injuries around 1:30 p.m. the following day, after being charged with first-degree murder.
According to CBS12, the murder occurred as McCray was eating dinner during the video call, when witnesses saw her being shot. One of the witnesses later identified Shaw as the assailant through a photographic lineup provided by the police. Prior to the incident, a warrant had been issued for Shaw on charges including aggravated assault with a firearm and domestic battery by strangulation.
"It's just heartbreaking an 18-year-old was killed as a result of domestic violence," Mike Jachles, WPBPD spokesperson, told CBS12 News. Shaw and McCray had dated for over a year, and Shaw was reportedly living with her at the time of the shooting "because he had nowhere else to stay," per police reports. Despite his estrangement from McCray, and previous violent threats including brandishing a gun at her, Shaw remained in the home leading up to the night of the murder.
WPBPD had been actively searching for Shaw after a brief pursuit at Gaines Park ended due to safety concerns. "We had him at Gaines Park, he then fled took off, led us on a chase for almost five miles. We had to terminate that chase because it was just unsafe. He was on our radar," Jachles explained. The full autopsy results for both McCray and Shaw will be determined by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office.
Jachles also emphasized the importance of seeking help in abusive situations, saying, "If anybody is in an abusive, or a domestic violence type of relationship, it's important that they get help. It's not easy, but there are resources available." In cases of immediate danger, individuals are urged to call 911 for assistance.
