A 34-year-old Pennsylvania woman was shot and killed outside an Armstrong County bar after she stepped in to defend a woman she believed was being attacked. The woman leaves behind three young children and a family in mourning.
State police said troopers responded to the scene at 1:16 a.m. after receiving a report of shots fired. A Kiskiminetas patrol officer was the first to arrive and found Hilliard dead at the scene. A second victim, Rebecca Boston, 24, of McIntyre, was also found at the scene and was listed in critical condition. Two other men—Hector Saballos, 34, and Dominik Dellach, 25, both of Vandergrift—had left before troopers arrived but were later reported in stable condition.
The violence unfolded when David Dunmire, 36, of Vandergrift, became involved in a physical altercation in the parking lot, according to the police report.
Hilliard's sisters said she didn't hesitate.
"A man was possibly putting his hands on a female, and her and another friend tried to step in and stop it. And that individual who was going after the female is the person who ended up shooting," Hailey Frawley, Hilliard's sister, told the station.
Hilliard was hit multiple times in the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the state police report.
"Our sister died a hero, and she is the kind of person who would always jump in to help anybody, regardless of if she knew them or not. And she's been like that her whole life," said Amanda Evacheck, another sister.
Dunmire remained at the scene and was taken into custody without incident, according to police. He now faces 16 charges, including four counts of criminal homicide, after Armstrong County District Attorney Katie Charlton approved the charges, police said. The investigation remains ongoing.
The family has launched a GoFundMe to cover funeral costs and support Hilliard's children. Over $20,000 has been raised toward a $26,000 goal.