8-year-old girl shot by dad, who also killed mom and brother, succumbs to injuries on Christmas Day

8-year-old girl shot by dad, who also killed mom and brother, succumbs to injuries on Christmas Day

An eight-year-old girl, who was shot and critically injured during the double murder-suicide by her father which also saw her mother and brother killed, succumbed to her injuries on Christmas Day, nine days after she was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.

The 44-year-old father, US Coast Guard serviceman John Stanley Presnar, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home near the 11400 block of Southwest 242nd Lane in southwest Miami-Dade on December 16 along with his 39-year-old wife Gretchen Presnar and seven-year-old son John Jr. During the killing spree, he also shot eight-year-old daughter McKenna, who was airlifted to the Nicklaus Children's Hospital and put on life support.

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According to the Daily Mail, the young girl's injuries proved too severe, and she passed away on December 25, though not before potentially saving the lives of dozens of others. When it became apparent that she would not pull through, her remaining family members took a decision to allow doctors to harvest her organs.

Speaking after McKenna's death, which made the case into a triple murder-suicide, Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez said, "This incident is a tragedy that impacts an entire community. We all mourn when these tragic events occur. We know domestic violence is difficult to prevent. As a community, we need to raise awareness to encourage families in need to seek assistance."

Gretchen's cousin, Beth Casey, also asked people to reach out with help to those who needed it, writing, "Please reach out to people who might need help. Break the stigma about mental illness. Help people get the help they need," and that it was "ok to get the help needed."

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The Miami-Herald reported that the shooting was the culmination of a heated argument between Presnar, an electronics technician First Class who worked out of a Coast Guard base in Miami Beach, and his wife on the tragic night. At around 12:45 am, she urged her mother, who would survive the incident, to run and get help. But by the time deputies arrived at the scene, Presnar, his wife, and his son were already dead, and McKenna was fighting for her life.

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Her death was confirmed on Facebook by uncle Michael Casey, who wrote, "Today, this angel is gaining her wings. As the family is saying their final goodbyes now, many thanks to all who offered their support and prayers over the last week. The support for the family has been overwhelming. While we mourn the loss of our loved ones during this holiday season, we rejoice in the gift of life."

"Many have been praying for a miracle and we think God is answering those prayers," he continued. "The miracle has turned into the miracle of organ donation. We are grateful that other families will be receiving a very special Christmas miracle of their own because of McKenna. Send your thoughts and prayers for the surgical team as they are about to engage in this Christmas miracle."

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