Shana Pringle: Lonely California mom shoots herself, 2-year-old son dead inside car leaving friends shocked
What led a young 34-year-old mother to kill herself and her son? Friends believe it was heartbreak which spiralled into depression - brought on by a recent breakup and the coronavirus pandemic. It is both shocking and heartbreaking as friends describe her a loving, caring and devoted mother. Shana Pringle and her two-year-old son, Noah Vice, were reported missing from Sacramento County on November 23, 2020. It was a missing person case until they were found dead with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle on Sunday.
The missing Northern California mother and her young son were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds. One of these was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A friend close to her believes that Shana might have decided to take the step because of her situation which was worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. According to reports, an officer made the gruesome discovery around 3 am on Sunday.
"The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Shana and Noah for the tragic ending discovered in Placer County early this morning," a sheriff's office spokesperson told KXTV in a statement. According to the Placer County Sheriff's Office, their bodies were later recovered from a vehicle parked near a movie theatre on Eureka Road in Roseville, California.
One of Pringle's friends reportedly said that she is sure that the isolation brought on by the coronavirus pandemic drove the young mother into depression. "This just simply is the worst year that ever was, ever, it's the worst," Sarah Beilgard told KOVR. She added that Pringle and her boyfriend had broken up during the lockdowns in California. "So I think she did suffer from depression, especially with COVID and not having her own place, boyfriend breaking up with her," she added. I think any normal person would have difficulty with that."
"She adored her son, I can't reconcile in my mind her harming him at all," Beilgard said. Her friend regrets not being able to help her out in time. "It's the worst, and I really blame COVID for what happened to Shana. Why didn't you call me? Why didn't you call me, why didn't you call me? She normally would've called me."
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.