A Tennessee man is accused of murdering a pregnant woman and their unborn child in what the victim’s family called an act of evil, WREG-TV reports.
Police on Thursday arrested 38-year-old Kevin McKinney in connection with the August 20 fatal shooting of 32-year-old Keierra McNeil at a Walgreens in metropolitan Memphis.
Investigators reportedly believe McNeil, who was six months pregnant at the time, and McKinney were planning to meet at the Walgreens to discuss co-parenting. McKinney was not supportive of the pregnancy and had previously pressured McNeil to get an abortion, according to the television station.
A witness told police they saw McKinney emerge from a patch of bushes and shoot McNeil multiple times before leaving in a white sports utility vehicle. That witness later identified McKinney to authorities, according to the report.
The victim was pregnant and was identified as Keierra McNeil (32). The suspect, 38-year-old Kevin Mckinney, was also identified and is now in custody for 2 cts of First Degree Murder. pic.twitter.com/kvsus5x9U6
— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) August 28, 2020
McNeil was pronounced dead at the scene. The baby, who was to be named Blu, also did not survive, according to WHBQ-TV.
In an interview with the television station, family members of McNeil said they were devastated.
“He has broken my entire family’s heart,” one family member told WREG-TV. “The magnitude of hurt, I can’t even explain it.”
The family member also had choice words for McKinney: “You are a coward. You are the scum of this earth. You are the worst person anybody could ever come into contact with,” they told the television station.
McNeil’s father echoed that sentiment in an interview with WHBQ-TV: “I hope he rot in hell because he done killed my daughter,” Antiochus McNeil told the television station.
The baby would have been McNeil’s first. Her family had been excited about the pregnancy and was planning a baby shower for September. Now they have a funeral to plan.
“Two days after her death, his first set of library books arrived to the home and when we received them, it was just devastating,” the family member told WREG-TV.
They added: “It is our prayer justice is served for Keierra.”
Prosecutors have charged McKinney with two counts of first-degree murder.
The family gathered on Friday evening at the Walgreens to remember McNeil. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
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