In a final, selfless act, 18-year-old Shekierrah Adams died shielding her infant son from his father's rage in a violent murder-suicide in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. The tragic events unfolded on a Saturday afternoon in April 2019, inside a basement apartment on Laurel Road.
Relatives of 23-year-old Raquill Holland, the child's father, grew concerned when they couldn't reach him for several hours. Forcing their way into the dead-bolted apartment, they discovered a horrific scene. Adams and Holland were both found dead on the floor from gunshot wounds. Adams had been shot in the face and torso, while Holland had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A Glock. 40-caliber handgun was found near his body.
Police believe Holland intended to kill his 11-month-old son as well. The infant was found covered in blood, having been shot in the thigh and abdomen. Adams was discovered in a fetal position, her body curled around her child in a protective embrace. Miraculously, the baby was conscious and survived his injuries, later reported to be in stable condition at a children's hospital.
Investigators described the couple's relationship as volatile, with a history of domestic disputes. Police had been called to the residence for an argument in October 2018, though no charges were filed at that time. Adams did not live at the apartment, which was in the basement of Holland's father's home. Family members believe Holland showed up at a relative's house where Adams was staying, and she went outside with their baby to meet him. She was never seen alive again by her family, leaving behind her purse and the baby's car seat. The case was officially closed as a murder-suicide by the Sharon Hill Police Department.
