2-year-old girl died after she went to hug her father who pulled out a gun during a mental health crisis and shot her to death before turning the gun on himself
Minnesota – In a heartbreaking tragedy in Minnesota that caught nationwide attention, a 2-year-old girl, identified as Kinsley P., was fatally shot by her own 50-year-old father, identified as S. Devery, during what authorities are calling a mental health crisis. The horrifying murder-suicide unfolded early Monday morning in the family’s home, while the child’s mother watched in helpless terror.
Devery, reportedly killed his toddler daughter before turning the gun on himself. The child’s mother, Trisha P., was present during the ordeal but was not physically harmed. The incident took place around 12:20 a.m. on June 9. Police responded to the residence after receiving reports of gunfire. Inside, they discovered the lifeless bodies of Devery and his daughter, both dead from gunshot wounds. Authorities quickly labeled the scene a suspected murder-suicide and launched an investigation.
According to Trisha, the nightmare began when Devery, who had been battling what she described as a rapid mental health decline, pulled out a firearm during a moment of emotional instability. At the time, Kinsley — just 2 years old — attempted to approach her father with open arms. That’s when he fatally shot her before turning the weapon on himself. Authorities have not disclosed whether Devery had a prior history of mental illness, but Trisha revealed that he had been suffering emotionally after a series of personal losses. The couple had been together for seven years and shared three children. She described his breakdown as entirely uncharacteristic. “This wasn’t him at all,” she said. “I couldn’t understand where his thinking had gone, he had never been like this before.”
Police Chief B. O’Hara confirmed that the shooting is being investigated as a murder-suicide and emphasized how deeply the event has affected first responders and investigators. “This is an unimaginable, heartbreaking tragedy,” O’Hara said. “Our hearts are with the child’s mother as she faces an overwhelming loss, and with the officers and investigators who responded to such a devastating scene.” The medical examiner’s office is expected to release the official cause and manner of death, although preliminary findings support the murder-suicide determination.
In the aftermath of the horrific event, the family’s home has been transformed into a memorial site. Photos, flowers, candles, and stuffed animals now line the yard in remembrance of young Kinsley — a child described by her mother as a joyful light in everyone’s life. “She was always happy,” Trisha said. “As young as she was, she made a difference in a lot of people’s lives. She could cheer anyone up.”
While grieving her child, Trisha is also urging others to take mental health seriously, especially within families and relationships. “It’s going to take me a while to forgive him, but I still love him,” she said. “It was his mental health, and I told him that he needed therapy.” Community leaders and organizations have also used the tragedy to underscore the need for accessible mental health support. Because the perpetrator ended his own life after killing his daughter, no criminal charges will be filed. However, authorities are using the case to highlight the importance of early mental health treatment and domestic violence intervention.
The community is left grappling with the devastating consequences of untreated psychological distress. For Trisha, her life is now divided between the memories of the joyful daughter she lost and the traumatic moments of her final hours. As loved ones prepare to say their final goodbyes to little Kinsley, they hope her story becomes a turning point — a moment that encourages people to seek help and act before another life is lost. Mental health and domestic violence resources remain vital, and this tragedy is a stark reminder that failing to address emotional and psychological struggles can have irreparable consequences.
