In a quiet Kansas City, Kansas neighborhood, a horrific act of domestic violence shattered a family in May of 2023. On the evening of May 18th, police were called to a home in the 2700 block of North 123rd Street following reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they discovered a tragic scene. Three women were found outside the residence with critical gunshot wounds.
Among the injured was 50-year-old Penny Smith, a female resident of the home.
She was rushed to a nearby hospital, along with her two daughters. One of her daughters, 29-year-old Kristy C. Thow, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital shortly after the shooting. The other daughter was also hospitalized but was eventually released. Penny Smith fought for her life for three days before she too passed away from her injuries on Sunday, May 21, 2023. She is survived by three daughters and three grandchildren.
The investigation into the deadly shooting quickly revealed a murder-suicide. The suspect was identified as Penny Smith's 51-year-old husband, Christopher Smith. After shooting his wife and stepdaughters, Christopher Smith was found deceased inside the house from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Family members later described the incident as stemming from domestic abuse, calling the perpetrator a "crazed domestic abuser." According to family, Kristy Thow was shot multiple times while heroically trying to protect her mother and sister from the gunman. The incident remains a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence.
