Janelle Monáe Condemns Gun Violence In The Wake Of Cousin's Death

A Kansas City, Kansas mother of three was killed Tuesday morning when a gunman fired bullets into her home while she and her family slept.

The shooter of Natasha Hays remains free while her three teens mourn her death, according to FOX 4. The 38-year-old’s children were not injured.

Singer Janelle Monáe revealed on Twitter Wednesday that Hays was her cousin. In a series of tweets, the artist expressed her grief over the tragedy and she shared her thoughts on gun violence in her hometown.

Two of the Hays’ cousins, Bryan Quinn and Candice Berger, told the local outlet that her children woke up and called out for their mom. When she didn’t answer, her youngest child, 14, went to check on her and found their mom dead.

“How would you feel if you woke up and your mom’s gone and you found her like that,” Berger said. “What nightmares do you think they are going to have now?”

Quinn told FOX 4 that Hays was “a devoted mother.” She was also a caregiver at the Life Care Center of Kansas City. The retirement home said in a statement to the station that its employees and residents were “shocked and heartbroken” by the tragedy.

Family members told the outlet that they believe they know the culprit and said she felt threatened by this person a few days prior to the shooting. The Kansas City Star reported that her family has asked anyone with information about the shooting to call the police. They’re also asking any businesses in the area with surveillance cameras to turn over its footage to the cops.

Police have not arrested any suspects as of yet.