PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – It’s a double dose of unimaginable pain for Kelvin Solomon.
Both of Solomon’s children, 11-year-old Xion and 8-year-old Phiinyx, were among six people shot Wednesday night in a family tragedy.
“It’s hard to really put it into words,” he said. “I just lost my son, my daughter is fighting for her life right now.”
His daughter Phiinyx is the only victim who survived.
“She’s doing a lot better,” said Solomon. “It’s still touch and go right now, but we’re just staying at her side right now and hoping for the best.”
The children’s mother, 32-year-old Julie Cruz, was killed after investigators say her partner, 34-year-old Stephen McKenzie, opened fire on his family inside of the couple’s Pembroke Park apartment building.
Detectives believe McKenzie then shot his own two sons, Nova and Emery, both just 2 years old, killing them both.
And then, according to police, he shot their other siblings, critically injuring Phiinyx and killing Xion, who were from a previous relationship between Solomon and Cruz, all before turning the gun on himself.
“My son was very brave in trying to protect and shield his mother and his siblings from this cowardly attack,” said Solomon. “She was definitely on her way out of the situation, so that could possibly be the deciding factor into what just happened.”
A domestic violence tragedy that has robbed the world of four young shining lights. Solomon said Xion excelled at sports.
“Football player, good kid, very big heart and actually he just won the championship in the sports league right here,” said Solomon.
A GoFundMe page was created to help with costs associated with Xion and Phiinyx Solomon, and it can be found by clicking here.
Reporters’ notes after speaking to law enforcement sources
- Six people were shot: A father, a mother, and four children. The father and a girl survived.
- The mother fatally shot was Julie Cruz and the children killed were Nova, Emery, and Xion.
- The biological father of 2-year-olds Nova and Emery McKenzie was the shooter who attempted to kill himself.
- Cruz’s 8-year-old daughter Phiinyx Solomon survived. She is Xion’s sister and the toddlers’ half-sister.
LOCAL 10 INVESTIGATES: Domestic violence
PART 2: Domestic violence cases have risen significantly in Florida since COVID pandemic