Ballooning sheds light on domestic violence after fatal shooting

PEORIA (25News Now) – People who knew one of the two women shot Sunday afternoon gathered Wednesday to mourn with a candlelight vigil and balloon release.

Zaneta Winters, 35, was shot to death in her Peoria home over the weekend. Police say it was her boyfriend, 43-year-old Stevie Linwood Jr., who killed her.

Hours before the vigil, a Peoria County judge ordered Linwood to remain in jail after learning that Zaneta ran out of the house to get help when he shot her once in the head.

Friends and family gathered around the home in the 3400 block of North El Vista Avenue to express their support.

“Some of these people aren't even related to her, and they love her just enough to come here and show their support, and for that we're grateful, we're thankful,” said Zaneta's cousin Keamber Winters.

Zaneta leaves behind a five-year-old son she had with Linwood. Police say the child was in the house during the shooting but was unharmed.

Her family stated that the relationship between the two parents had been abusive for over ten years.

To honor this, everyone at the vigil wore purple t-shirts and released purple balloons to raise awareness about domestic violence. It also happened to be Zaneta's favorite color.

“If you have the opportunity, go [the relationship] because I don't want any other family to go through this. It's so heartbreaking,” Keamber said.

Another woman who went to the house after hearing Zaneta's screams was also allegedly shot multiple times by Linwood and is fighting for her life in the hospital.

The family said they did not know the woman, Jakaiden Rynearson, but the fact that she risked her life to save someone else’s, [life] makes her a heroine.

“We will pray for her again tonight and I want to thank her for being a hero. It's just a sad situation, but we will make something positive out of it; we will come together [Wednesday] for both of them,” said Zaneta’s best friend Janelle Washington.

Zaneta's sister has set up a GoFundMe page to ask for help paying for funeral expenses. The link can be found here.

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