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A courageous Pennsylvania mother of three tragically lost her life in what relatives are calling a heroic act. She stepped in to defend another woman just before a gunman unleashed gunfire outside a local bar.
Jessica Hilliard, 34, was fatally shot in the early hours of Sunday morning near Niki’s Quick Six in Parks Township, Armstrong County, according to a report from Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 (WTAE).
The Pennsylvania State Police reported to WTAE that the incident began shortly after 1 a.m. with a verbal dispute erupting in the bar’s parking area.
The situation intensified when a woman dashed into the bar, claiming she had been assaulted. This prompted several individuals, including Hilliard, to rush outside to assist.
Jessica Hilliard, pictured with one of her children, was remembered for her bravery. Reports indicate she was attempting to aid a woman during a shooting incident outside a bar in Parks Township. (GoFundMe)
Hilliard was among those trying to intervene when she was shot multiple times in the chest, according to the report.
The suspected gunman, identified by WTAE as 36-year-old David Dunmire, allegedly pulled out a gun and fired multiple rounds into a crowd while running away, striking four people.
Jessica Hilliard with her son in an undated photo. She was killed in a shooting in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, authorities say. (GoFundMe)
Three others were wounded in the gunfire, including a 24-year-old woman who was listed in critical condition. Two men were reported to be in stable condition, WTAE said, citing police.
Family members told the outlet that Hilliard wasn’t involved in the dispute but stepped in because she believed someone was in danger.
“Our sister died a hero,” one of her sisters said, according to the outlet.
Jessica Hilliard and her daughter in a selfie. The mother of three was killed in a shooting outside a bar in Parks Township, Pennsylvania, according to reports. (GoFundMe)
A GoFundMe created for Hilliard’s family reinforces that account, saying she was killed “while trying to stop a man from hurting a woman,” and describing her final moments as an act of “courage and selflessness.”
The fundraiser says Hilliard, who leaves behind two daughters and a son, was “protective, strong, and deeply loved,” adding that “she was the kind of person who stepped in when someone needed help.”
Her death has left what the family describes as “an unimaginable hole” as loved ones now work to support her children and cover funeral expenses.
WTAE reported the suspect was taken into custody at the scene and faces multiple charges, including criminal homicide.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement for additional information.