Mother dies trying to save daughter in mass shooting at son’s birthday party
FLORENCE, Ky. (WKYT/Gray News) - A mother in Kentucky died while trying to save her daughter in a mass shooting at her son’s 21st birthday party.
The shooting happened during a birthday party for 44-year-old Melissa Parrett’s son at her home in Florence, according to police.
The suspected shooter, identified as 21-year-old Chase Garvey was not invited to the party but knew those celebrating.
Garvey shot seven people, four of whom died at the scene.
One of the surviving victims, 19-year-old Chloe Parrett, is a student at Eastern Kentucky University.
Parrett was shot in the chest at the birthday party. Right now, Chloe is currently at a hospital, working to recover from those serious injuries
Her dad, Bruce Parrett, told WKYT that her mom, Melissa died trying to save their daughter, and he is forever grateful.
He wasn’t at his son’s birthday party but lives just a few miles down the road.
At 3 a.m., he said he got a heart-stopping call and rushed to the scene.
“I parked at the top of the street and ran down to the house, where I saw all of the carnage of a scene no human being should ever have to witness in their life,” Bruce Parrett said.
Police said following the shooting, the suspect took off. Authorities said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
This was the first mass shooting ever reported in Florence, WKYT reported.
The three people still in the hospital are expected to recover.
Friends and family members have set up GoFundMe accounts for some of the victims’ families.
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