VANCOUVER, Wash. — Family and friends are mourning the loss of Carissa Larkin, a mother of three who was killed in a murder-suicide in Vancouver's Bagley Downs neighborhood on Thursday, July 25.
The shooting happened at around 8:20 a.m., police said. A caller reported seeing a man with a gun in a parking lot and then hearing gunshots.
According to Larkin's best friend, Baylee Gonzales, the shooter was Larkin's fiancé, from whom she'd separated back in March. Gonzales said they hadn't had contact since April 6.
"It was traumatic to get a phone call the way I did," said Gonzales. "It was really hard. We're all just taking a second to grieve and be there for the kids."
Larkin leaves behind two daughters, ages 13 and 11, and her 4-year-old son — who she was holding in her arms when the shooting happened. Vancouver police confirmed to KGW that a bullet grazed the boy's hand, but he survived.
"She was going to work," said Gonzales. "She was taking her 4-year-old to school and (her former fiancé) showed up and surprised her. She was protecting her baby until the last possible second, because that's the kind of person she was. She saved his life."
Gonzales recalls being taken aback when she heard the news, though she knew what Larkin had been going through — sharing that it wasn't "out of the blue."
"But, it wasn't something we ever, ever imagined would have happened," she said.
According to court records, Larkin had petitioned for multiple protection orders in March, and several were granted in April.
KGW’s Daisy Caballero spoke with Michelle Bart, president of the National Women's Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation. Bart said that sometimes leaving a situation where there's domestic violence can also present a huge risk.
"And in the case of Carissa, she wrote in a declaration that she feared (her former fiancé) would retaliate," said Bart. "She wrote that, and he did exactly what she said to the court that he was going to do ... The fact that she was holding her 4-year-old and he still shot and killed her anyway just goes to the fact that he had no remorse and he was there to carry out a mission — a mission in which she many times had asked the court for protection from."
Larkin's three children are currently staying with Gonzales and her family as she's working on getting emergency custody, sharing that the children are aware of what has happened.
Gonzales asked Larkin's daughters if they could share something about their mom. Here's what they said:
"She was sweet, caring and very open."
"Even though I had an attitude, she would always still be there. And she always told me to be brave."
Gonzales is now left reminiscing on the unforgettable memories the pair shared since meeting four years ago, when they first bonded after having had premature babies. Gonzales described Larkin as loving and energetic.
"You could feel her presence. The second she was in a room she was the light of it. She was just a bright and kind-hearted soul," said Gonzales. "You are the strongest, most amazing person I have ever met in my entire life, (Carissa). And she's the reason I am the mother I am today, the friend I am today, the person in my community ... it's because of you, Carissa. You have changed my life entirely."
Gonzales has started a GoFundMe page to help support Larkin's children. And if you or someone you know needs help, there are resources available 24-7, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline. That number is 1-800-799-7233.
More Than A Number aims to help give a face and a voice to victims and families impacted by tragedies. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a homicide and would like to share your story, you can reach out to us by sending an email to morethananumber@kgw.com.