Kelvi McCray, an 18-year-old model and beautician, was tragically killed in a murder-suicide by her 19-year-old ex-boyfriend, Keisean Shaw, while she was participating in a FaceTime call with her friends.
On the evening of March 6, 2024, the West Palm Beach Police Department in Florida was called to a residence following a report of a shooting.
According to the probable cause affidavit, McCray had been shot in the head, back, and neck. Shaw was also found in the house with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. Both individuals were rushed to the hospital where McCray succumbed to her injuries. Shaw, who initially survived and was charged with first-degree murder, died the following day, ending any further legal action against him.
Three of McCray’s friends who were on the FaceTime call witnessed the incident. One of them saw Shaw shoot McCray and later positively identified him from a police photograph.
The day before the tragic incident, McCray had called 911 to report that Shaw had strangled her and pointed a gun at her head, temporarily detaining her against her will.
McCray had tried to flee in a vehicle, during which time Shaw leaped onto the windshield, causing it to break. He was charged with false imprisonment, aggravated assault, and battery, among other offenses related to this incident, as per online court records. The police were looking for him at the time of the shooting.
McCray and Shaw had dated for a year before she ended the relationship. Despite this, Shaw continued to live in the same house as McCray, as she allowed him to stay due to his lack of alternative housing.
Ricky Aiken, McCray’s uncle, remembered her as an “intelligent” individual with a zest for life. He spoke of her entrepreneurial spirit, beauty, and intelligence, underlining the sense of loss experienced by her family and community.
Police have categorized the incident as a murder-suicide. The investigation revealed a troubling pattern of domestic violence leading up to the tragic event. The community and McCray’s family are grappling with the loss of a young woman with a promising future, raising questions about the circumstances that led to this heartbreaking incident.
McCray, recognized for her beauty and work in modeling, had a considerable social media following, where she often shared details about her life and career.