Teenage sisters killed in front of their father by man hiding in their house: police

A tribal nation in Oregon was rocked this week by the fatal shootings of two black and indigenous teenage sisters who were shot by a man hiding in their home.

Aleeka Qualls, 19, and her 14-year-old sister Zion Qualls were killed on the morning of June 29 in the Klamath Falls home where they lived with their father.

The police initially responded to the report that a man had hidden in the family’s house and threatened them with a weapon, according to a Police press release.

When officers arrived at 8 a.m., they heard gunshots coming from the Qualls’ apartment. They rushed in and arrested 20-year-old Elijah Albert Croy.

One of the girls was pronounced dead at the scene, the other died later in hospital, police said.

According to ABC affiliate KDRV, police said Croy also tried to kill the girls’ father, Tashka Qualls, but his gun jammed.

According to an affidavit obtained by KDRV, authorities admitted to shooting the girls after their father discovered him in a bedroom.

According to the news agency, Klamath Falls police are also investigating whether Croy attempted to sexually abuse the girls.

Court documents obtained by HuffPost show that Croy has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and three counts of weapon misuse.

Spokespeople for the Klamath Falls Police Department and the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office were out of the office when contacted by HuffPost on Friday.

Tashka Qualls, a popular tattoo artist in Klamath Falls, thanked the community and the Klamath tribes for their support following the murder of his daughters.

“There are no words to express how I feel about the loss of my daughters and the outpouring of love I feel from our community,” Qualls said. “This has shaken me to the core and I never want anyone to have to feel the pain I am currently feeling.”

The girls’ mother, Crystal Davis, who had joint custody of her daughters, is “not doing well at all,” her sister Courtney Franklin told HuffPost on Friday.

“We are just shocked and devastated,” Franklin said of the loss. She said the girls were more than sisters – they were best friends.

Aleeka was “sweet and calm” and “very positive” and focused on finding solutions rather than dealing with the problems, Franklin said.

The 19-year-old had planned to go to college in Sacramento this fall and live with Franklin, a professor. She plans to study real estate and “possibly makeup,” her aunt added.

Both girls loved the color pink, and Aleeka, who Franklin described as “very spiritual,” even had a pink Bible, she said.

She described Zion as “lively” and said she loved hanging out with friends and playing video games.

The Klamath Tribes said in a press release that “deep sadness” was expressed for the girls, who were descended from the Klamath tribe.

Tribal Council member Leslie Anderson said the community has a “responsibility” to raise awareness about missing or murdered Native Americans. Violence against Native Americans is significantly higher than the national averagebut received less attention from media and law enforcement agencies.

“We have a responsibility for the future. Under the new tribal leadership, we are committed to justice for all members of our tribal community who are victims of violence and senseless crimes,” Anderson said.

“The Klamath Tribes must continue to stand strong in unity and prayer for the victims and their families. Law enforcement must take these crimes against tribal members seriously and aggressively pursue these criminals,” the Klamath Tribes Council said in the press release.

The girls are proud of their biracial identity, their aunt told HuffPost.

“When they visited their mother, they often had their hair done and braided. They enjoyed making beads and feather work, through the tribe,” Franklin said.

“Even though her mother is African American, she was also very close to the tribe,” Franklin said.

Croy is currently being held in the Klamath County Jail. His next court hearing is scheduled for July 9.

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