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Kansas father shoots 7-year-old daughter in the head before killing himself in murder-suicide motivated by jealousy

The Parsons Police Department is investigating the murder-suicide of Zachary Pastorena and his daughter Lizzy
UPDATED MAR 17, 2020
(Source : Getty Images)
(Source : Getty Images)

PARSONS, KANSAS: A Kansas father shot and killed his daughter, before turning the gun on himself in a murder-suicide that is believed to be motivated by jealousy. 

The gruesome crime came to light at 10.42 pm on Sunday, September 29, when the Parsons Police Department received reports of possible shots fired inside a residence in the 1700 block of Chess, according to KOAM News Now.

When they arrived at the scene, they found Joshua Bode suffering from two gunshot wounds to the face. Emergency Medical Services transported Bode to a local hospital, from where he was flown to Kansas University Medical Center. He is still believed to be in critical condition.

Police quickly identified the suspect as Zachary Castorena of Parsons. Bode was reportedly in a relationship with Castorena's estranged wife, and the pair were leaving the home to go to work when the shooting unfolded.

As officers were searching for Castorena, the Parsons Dispatch Center received a call from him at 10.49 pm. He was threatening to commit suicide and said he would kill his seven-year-old daughter Lizzy as well.

Police quickly made their way to his residence in the 3100 Block of Corning Avenue and found that he had barricaded himself inside.

They established a perimeter and attempted to negotiate with him using a loudspeaker, but fearing for Lizzy's safety, decided to make an emergency entry into the home.

When two officers got inside, they found that Castorena had already shot Lizzy in the head and then shot himself. He was declared dead at the scene.

Lizzy, who was critically injured, was picked up by an officer and rushed to the Labette Health Emergency Department. She was then airlifted to Springfield, Missouri, where she was declared dead early Monday, September 30, morning. 

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Lizzy's memorial service paid tribute to the young girl and read, "Lizzy was a beautiful little girl with a lot of life to live still. She was tragically taken from this world too early."

"We come from a small town, where people have big hearts," it continued. "Please come together to help this mother lay her daughter to rest." The page has raised over $2,000 of its $10,000 goal at the time of writing.

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