A mother of three from Pennsylvania tragically lost her life in what her family describes as a heroic act. She was attempting to shield another woman just before a gunman opened fire outside a bar.
Jessica Hilliard, 34, was fatally shot early Sunday morning outside Niki’s Quick Six in Parks Township, Armstrong County, as reported by Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 (WTAE).
The Pennsylvania State Police informed WTAE that the incident unfolded shortly after 1 a.m. following a verbal confrontation in the bar’s parking lot.
The situation intensified when a woman rushed into the bar, claiming she had been attacked. This prompted several patrons, including Hilliard, to go outside in response.
While trying to help diffuse the situation, Hilliard was struck by multiple gunshots to the chest, according to the report.
Hilliard was among those trying to intervene when she was shot multiple times in the chest, according to the report.
The suspected gunman, identified by WTAE as 36-year-old David Dunmire, allegedly pulled out a gun and fired multiple rounds into a crowd while running away, striking four people.
Jessica Hilliard with her son in an undated photo. She was killed in a shooting in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, authorities say. (GoFundMe)
Three others were wounded in the gunfire, including a 24-year-old woman who was listed in critical condition. Two men were reported to be in stable condition, WTAE said, citing police.
Family members told the outlet that Hilliard wasn’t involved in the dispute but stepped in because she believed someone was in danger.
“Our sister died a hero,” one of her sisters said, according to the outlet.
Jessica Hilliard and her daughter in a selfie. The mother of three was killed in a shooting outside a bar in Parks Township, Pennsylvania, according to reports. (GoFundMe)
A GoFundMe created for Hilliard’s family reinforces that account, saying she was killed “while trying to stop a man from hurting a woman,” and describing her final moments as an act of “courage and selflessness.”
The fundraiser says Hilliard, who leaves behind two daughters and a son, was “protective, strong, and deeply loved,” adding that “she was the kind of person who stepped in when someone needed help.”
Her death has left what the family describes as “an unimaginable hole” as loved ones now work to support her children and cover funeral expenses.
WTAE reported the suspect was taken into custody at the scene and faces multiple charges, including criminal homicide.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement for additional information.
