A 20-year-old Peoria woman, shot while trying to help a woman fatally wounded in an August shooting incident, has also died of her injuries.
Jakaiden Rynearson was pronounced dead at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice in Peoria early Tuesday morning after a "continuous heroic fight," said Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood.
An autopsy showed Rynearson was shot multiple times throughout her body.
A GoFundMe page established for Rynearson describes her as "a true hero."
"She loved helping others, which ultimately cost her the quality of life she deserved. Her spirit touched everyone she met," the page said.
Donations will help pay for funeral arrangements and other costs. A message from WCBU to the organizer of the GoFundMe wasn't immediately returned.
On Aug. 9, Peoria police responded to the 3400 block of North El Vista on a report of two women being shot. Zaneta Winters, 35, was found lying in the doorway of a residence after she was shot in the back of the head.
Rynearson was found shot in the front yard. A witness told police Rynearson ran across the street to help when Winters was shot by her boyfriend, 43-year-old Stevie Linwood. Rynearson was then shot as well, the witness told police. The witness said Linwood stood over Rynearson after the shooting, then walked away.
Linwood was arrested on Aug. 12 in the 2000 block of West Forrest Hill. A discarded handgun was found nearby.
Winters was pronounced dead on Aug. 12. Linwood is charged in her murder, and for the attempted murder of Rynearson. Linwood, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was denied pretrial release at an Aug. 14 hearing. A jury trial is currently set for Dec. 16.
It's likely that attempted murder charge will now be upgraded to a murder charge.
