Police in California announced that a homeless man had stabbed a 54-year-old man and his 22-year-old daughter to death while they were working on their vehicle outside a Kohl's store.
Ken Evans and his daughter McKenna Evans were spending time together tinkering on their sedan around noon on Thursday in Palmdale when the man attacked them for no apparent reason, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Ken was rushed to a hospital just north of Los Angeles, where he died, while his daughter McKenna was pronounced dead at the scene. The newspaper reported that LA County sheriff's deputies had arrested a suspect, who the cops said may be a transient.
Elizabeth Evans devastated after the deaths of her husband and daughter
Elizabeth Evans, the victim's wife and mom mourned her family's shocking loss. The devastated mom said that McKenna was not just her daughter but also her best friend. She added that her daughter was full of joy and cared for both people and animals.
Elizabeth told KTLA that her daughter was an absolute beacon and did not know a stranger. She said that everybody became McKenna's best friend. Elizabeth also praised her husband, saying he was a doting father who loved spending as much time as possible with his daughter.
McKenna's boyfriend, Jesse Mercado, said he ran to the scene after learning of the shocking crime. He said he wanted to hold her again. He added that it was hard to know that the person who changed his life so drastically was taken in just one day.
He described his girlfriend as a kind, caring and ambitious young woman. Jesse said that the first time he met McKenna was at work and the moment she presented herself was the day he fell in love with her.
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GoFundMe campaign raises more than $23,000 for the family
Jesse and McKenna met at an ice cream shop where they both worked. They had been dating since February. McKenna's mom said she had been waiting to take her aesthetician exam. She added her daughter preferred vegan products that were not tested on animals as she paid attention to kindness and comfort.
Elizabeth said her husband Ken had been planning to move to Missouri and had been trying to spend more quality time with his youngest child before leaving California. She said that Ken was always adventurous and a risk-taker.
Ken and Elizabeth met in Kansas before returning to the latter's native California. She said that Ken worked in real estate and construction there. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for the Evans family to help with their funeral expenses. It has raised $23,110 thus far, surpassing its $20,000 goal.
