The number of people with mental health problems in the United States has been growing for years and the trend continued with the start of the pandemic, quarantines and financial difficulties. From the very start of the pandemic, many health experts warned that especially the quarantines will negatively affect the general mental health and we are now seeing the results.
According to the statistics, 20.6% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2019 (51.5 million people). This represents 1 in 5 adults. 5.2% of U.S. adults experienced serious mental illness in 2019 (13.1 million people). This represents 1 in 20 adults.
One of those struggling in life as a result of a mental health condition is the 24-year-old E. Callejas who shot and killed one and seriously injured the other minor child late last month in their home in Arizona.
According to the police report, there was no apparent motive for the shooting, but the authorities claim that the woman was suffering mental health issues. Last week’s Monday, the mother shot her 2-year-old daughter at close range and then fired “at least” three shots at her 6-year-old son as he ran away from her in their home.
With all the bullets in her handgun, she struggled to reload the gun and tried to kill herself by downing anti-depressants. As soon as she realized what she had done, she fled the scene and called her sister and husband telling them that she killed her children. Shortly after, she returned in the home.
Her husband was the one who reported the incident to the local police even before he got at their home. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found the minors, a boy and a girl, both suffering gunshot wounds.
The children were immediately transferred to hospital for treatment. As a result of the heavy injuries, the girl was pronounced dead shortly after arrival to the hospital. The boy is in critical condition fighting for his life.
The suspect was also at the home when deputies arrived. According to the police report, she got her hand shot and she was treated at the scene before she was arrested and taken into custody. Currently, the mother is charged with on count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. The charges will surely be upgraded depending on her son’s condition.
The tragic scene left responders “shaken up,” police officials on a press conference said. “You can imagine, something nobody should have to see our officers see it again and again,” they added said.
The initial investigation showed that Callejas bought the weapon few years ago and hid it from her husband during all the years. Reportedly, she had been on prescription meds for her depression, New York Post reported.
In an interview with cops after her arrest she admitted to the shooting and said “she wanted them to go to heaven,” Az Central stated.
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