MEMBERS of the New Destiny Church got together along with their friends to mourn the death of 67-year-old Josephine Echols, known to them as Mama Jo, at a candlelight vigil on Monday night.
On Sunday afternoon, Kiarron Parker shot Mama Jo five times just as church services were ending.
Her family says she died doing what she did her whole life—helping others.
“It was horrible. Screams. It was surreal,” said Pastor De Lono Straham, son of the deceased woman.
An eyewitness, Tarell Martin, who was outside the church when he heard a car screeching and the impact of it hitting one car, which ricocheted off another car, said: “He comes flying down and hits, rams into a car.”
Martin went inside the church to get help.
“She was asked to come out and check and see if the gentleman was okay. From what I understand, he pulled the gun on the staff and just began to shoot,” said Straham.
Martin said he was the first one out. And he saw Parker standing by a bus, hiding behind a bus.
“When he sees me, he starts walking toward his car, I didn’t know it was his car. Along with me and some of the other people, I think he was trying to guide us into the middle of the street and try to shoot us. Once we got into the street, that’s exactly what he did,” said Martin. “He pulled out the gun and started chasing us.”
Martin ran and Parker fired at him. But the gun didn’t work. He tripped.
“When I fell to the ground I was trying to get up, he was already over the top of me with a gun to my head, and he started shooting again and no bullets came out,” he said.
That gave him enough time to hide behind a car.
Then, the bullets started raining, and hit Mama Jo.
That’s when an off-duty Denver policeman—also Mama Jo’s nephew—shot the suspect dead.
“Thank God for him because if it wasn’t for him there’s no telling what would have happened,” said Martin.
“He had just changed his schedule so he could bring his son to church. It’s very fortunate he was even carrying his revolver,” said Straham.
“I ran and checked on her. She had a bullet hole in her face and was bleeding all over here…I’m sad. My heart is hurt. I’m devastated my mom lost her life actually trying to help someone who took her life,” said Straham. With agency inputs
