Abusive Boyfriend Strangling Mom on Floor, Shaking Teen Grabs Gun and Pulls Trigger
For children living in a household fraught with domestic violence, they have little control over the safety and well-being of their world.
Their lives are at the mercy of the adults who come in and out of the home, days and nights are often filled with violence, fear and trauma.
While many are quick to judge a person who stays in an abusive relationship, anyone who has been in the situation knows just how difficult it can be to walk away.
In early August, three children living with their mother, Chandra Nierman, had enough of her abusive boyfriend, Steven Kelley.
The 46-year-old man was a regular fixture of terror in the Nierman household, threatening to take their mother’s life on multiple occasions.
But after midnight on Aug. 8, Nierman’s children knew they needed to do something to help their mother.
According to the Rutherford County Sheriff Office, Nierman’s 12-year-old son was the first to take matters into his own hands. He grabbed a gun and handed it to his 15-year-old sister.
The 15-year-old took aim and fired at the man who was strangling and beating her mother.
Kelley was screaming that he was going to kill Nierman and then unleash his fury on the entire household, threatening to kill all three children.
The 15-year-old fired two shots into Kelley’s chest. One of the bullets grazed the leg of the shooter’s 16-year-old sister, who was treated at a hospital and released.
Kelley died from the gunshot wounds.
According to The Charlotte Observer, the 15-year-old will not face charges in Kelley’s death. The Observer reported the teenager’s actions were considered a “justified” shooting.
While no specific domestic violence calls had previously come from the Nierman’s North Carolina home, an investigation revealed that Kelley had two orders of protection filed against him by two prior women from Ohio and Indiana.
Kelley was also a convicted felon.
As the Nierman family recovers from such a traumatizing ordeal, many are hopeful the near-death experience will serve as the catalyst for the family to begin counseling, move toward healing and begin a fresh start.
The unidentified 15-year-old has been hailed a hero for saving her family and has people around the country cheering her on as she moves forward with her young life.
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