The family of Taylor Thomas, a 29-year-old mother from Kansas City, is seeking justice after her tragic death on June 17th. Taylor was shot near Linwood Boulevard and Walrond Avenue, just two days after celebrating her 29th birthday. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she passed away two days later, leaving behind six young children, all under the age of 10.
The senseless killing has devastated Taylor’s family, who are now not only mourning her loss but also grappling with the immense challenge of raising her children without their mother. Taylor’s death marks yet another heart-wrenching tragedy in the ongoing wave of gun violence plaguing communities across the country.
### A Family Torn Apart
Taylor’s stepmother, Deannia Ellis, who helped raise her, described the pain her family is enduring. “Some of her babies are just two, three, and four years old. They’ll never really know who their mother was,” Ellis said. “It’s not fair that they were robbed of that, and she was robbed of her life.”
Taylor’s biological mother, Lawonia Carlton, expressed how deeply the tragedy has affected their entire family. “It’s ripped a hole in my heart. Not a moment goes by where I don’t think about Taylor,” Carlton shared, adding that Taylor’s children are still too young to fully understand the magnitude of the loss.
The family is now left with the enormous task of caring for six children, whose lives have been forever altered by this violent act. Taylor was a dedicated mother, actively involved in her children’s lives as a homeroom parent and member of the PTA at their school. Her sudden absence has left a void that will be difficult to fill.
### Seeking Justice and Community Support
On June 30th, Taylor’s family held a candlelight vigil in her memory, hoping that someone from the community might come forward with information that could lead to the arrest of her killer. The Kansas City Police Department currently has no suspects in custody, and the investigation remains ongoing.
“It was so hard to tell her children what happened,” said Ellis. “How do you explain to kids, aged 10, 9, 7, 4, 3, and 2, that someone took their mother’s life? It’s something you can never really prepare for.”
Taylor’s family is calling on the community to not only support them in their quest for justice but to take a stand against the growing epidemic of gun violence. Mary Chavis, another of Taylor’s stepmothers, urged the public to act. “Nothing will change until people start standing up and saying something,” she said. “If you see something, say something. Don’t be afraid.”
Chavis added that Taylor’s death is not an isolated case. “No one has the right to take someone’s life. We’re not supposed to bury our children; they’re supposed to bury us. We want justice, not just for Taylor but for anyone going through this.”
### The Struggle Ahead
As the family awaits justice, they are faced with the daunting reality of raising six children without their mother. They hope that Taylor’s story will bring attention to the violence that continues to claim innocent lives and that it will inspire others to speak out and take action.
The tragic loss of Taylor Thomas has left a community in grief and a family in unimaginable pain. Her children, ranging in age from two to ten, will now have to navigate life without the love and guidance of their mother, but her family is determined to keep her memory alive and to seek justice for her untimely death.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to come forward and assist the Kansas City Police Department in their investigation. Taylor’s family remains hopeful that the person responsible for her death will be brought to justice, ensuring that her death was not in vain.