Kelsey Strickland, 21-Year-Old Mom of 4, Tragically Dies – Family Pays Touching Tribute
A young female left her life hanging by a thread after being shot very late at night. Her family now remains mourning and in pursuit of justice.
On June 17, 2025, Kelsey Strickland, a 21-year-old mother of 4 children, passed, after being shot nearly a week before, in an apartment in Heavener, Oklahoma. Her death has not only caused a criminal
investigation but has also caused a ripple of griefs and emotional outpourings amongst family members and her close people.
At around 3.30 am on June 11, the officers went to the scene of a shooting at a complex in State Highway 128 where they found Dylan McGee 20 years of age and Kelsey in a critical condition. Soon, the police took her to a local hospital where she lingered in critical condition until her death.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of investigation confirmed that she has died, and that no suspects are on the run, yet the episode to and including the violence remains under investigation.
The Heavener Police Department as well as the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department are all cooperating with the OSBI, to find out what happened.
In the wake of the shooting not only did Kelsey and her family experience a form of emotional ruin but also it was accompanied by a misconceived torrent by the people.
Her younger sister, Brilynn Strickland, urged social media users to quit sharing photos in which Kelsey appeared with Dylan, claiming that it was extremely painful that the family saw him as a victim.
She had written in a raw and emotional post that he shot my sister in her face, the last thing that anyone of her family wants is to see him in the same post or photo with her.
And that is why I am sitting here pleading that I do not make it sound like he is a victim in this case either that he committed suicide and got rid of reality in this situation [sic].”
Several days after the shooting, a GoFundMe page was established to assist the family. In the name of Courtney Strickland, Kelsey stepmother, the twilight was organized by Karmyn Earley who described Kelsey as a mother herself and how the abrupt tragedy affected her.
It was also pointed out that Kelsey had been sleeping peacefully when the violence broke and her world was as well as that of her children turned upside down.
It was to raise funds to assist her medical costs, travel funds and necessities about her children. At the current point of writing, the campaign has already accumulated close to 5 thousand dollars in donations made by dozens of people who are eager to lighten the load on the grieving family.
With the increased popularity there were also numerous mourners who resorted to the Internet and social networks in order to share their sorrow and recall Kelsey.
Branden Bozarth, his father to one of her children, posted a beautiful eulogy. He swore that their son would be brought up in a way that he will know his mother not just through her name but also through stories of how strong, funny and loving she was.
He also added that the presence of Kelsey made an impact that would never diminish, and he promised that, they will always have a place in their heart.
The other tribute was by Calen Davies, older sister of Kelsey, who confessed that she was not able to come into terms with the fact that her sister had been killed. According to her, she did get the worst phone call of her life and she related how she felt with Kelsey in a hospital bed.
Calen also recalled that her sister was a stubborn and unflickering fighter, an element that any person who could have known her would identify with immediately. She also described, she was a mother, daughter, sister, friend, and cousin. Just Twenty-one, four pretty babies.”
It was a very personal loss to Danielle Porter, the aunt of Kelsey, as she replied to the emotional impact that this has had on her family.
I only read sad cases and never assume that Domestic Violence will be so close to home. She wrote that her heart is hurting about her babies who will never hear her voice or feel her putting her arms around her and the love she had for them.
Also, Danielle added, “We are not supposed to know the reason that this sort of stuff happens [sic] but my heart is just so clutched in pain and confusion.”
And here she concluded her post with, I could possibly write a book but all this to say. I hurt! I am heart broken, I am furious, I am confused and frustrated and my mind is all disordered.
By the end of the day Kelsey was so tough and struggled to win the battle. Continue to pray about her babies and the family [sic].
As the business goes on with the investigation, the family has not only had to cope with the sorrow that this tragedy caused but also a different future one that involves the absence of Kelsey. We sympathize with them over this.
Anyone contemplating suicide or attempting to assist someone with suicidal thoughts, should contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text help to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
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