Natasha Hays: Mother of 3 sprayed with bullets as she slept in her own home
Natasha Hays, 38, was asleep resting at home with her three sons when a gunman apparently rolled up in a drive-by shooting and sprayed her bedroom with bullets Tuesday, August 31, 2016 in Kansas City.
When the gunfire ended, Hays' 14-year-old called for his mother but heard nothing. He then entered her room and discovered a terrible scene: His mother was shot dead, still under the covers. She also has a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old.
"How would you feel if you woke up and your mom's gone and you found her like that," Candice Berger, Hays' cousin, told Fox4KC. "What nightmares do you think they are going to have now?"
"It is devastating. That's something you cannot fathom to even try to deal with if you've never experienced that," Quinn said.
Hays' employer, Life Care Center, released this statement to media outlets:
"The residents and associates of Life Care Center of Kansas City are shocked and heartbroken by the tragic death of our team member and friend last night. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family as they go through the difficult days and weeks ahead.
Grief counseling and bereavement services are being provided for residents and associates at the facility. At Life Care Center of Kansas City, we are a family. Our dedicated caregivers work very hard to make this center one that is known for its professionalism and compassion in the delivery of service to our residents. We remain focused on that mission today and every day."
Singer Janelle Monae took to social media to say that Hays was also her cousin.
"Gun violence has struck home," Monae tweeted. "My beautiful 1st cousin was murdered. She was a mother of 3. Loved by her community. #NatashaHays #sayhername."
"Whoever did this is a coward," Berger told Fox4KC. 'They just took her life ... I mean, it's just wrong, it's just wrong, in a cowardly way."
"She was a mother, a true mother," Berger said. "Some mothers like we don't have out here. It's just so sad."
Bryan Quinn, also Hays' cousin, said that her three kids were were world.
"She did everything for her kids. She was a devoted mother. That woman would do anything it took for her kids to have," Quinn told fox4KC.
