Miss America contestant's toddler said 'you'll be ok, dad' as bodybuilder lay dying after being shot while preaching

THE toddler son of a former Miss Mississippi reportedly told his dad he'd "be okay" as the bodybuilder died on the street after being fatally shot on Saturday.

Thomas Hand, 37, and his wife Christine Kozlowski, 33, were reportedly preaching in a poor neighborhood in Montgomery, Alabama when a 17-year-old teen allegedly shot him out of nowhere.


Pregnant Kozlowski and the couple's two-year-old son Roman were speaking to a family on the opposite side of the street when they reportedly saw a shirtless and mumbling Jerimiah Walker walk up to Hand before shooting him.

The couple's friend Kevin Rayan told The Sun that Roman was stilling in his stroller and saw his dad as he was shot.

Rayan said that he spoke to Kozlowski after the shooting and she told him of her son's reaction as his dad lay on the street.

And that their young son is still not yet aware he's lost his dad.

"She says no, he doesn't know what's going on," Rayan told The Sun.

'When it happened he was in the stroller and he was looking at his dad on the ground shot.

Most read in The Sun

DOCTOR'S ORDERS

Urgent warning to all Brits who had Omicron in December

PARKING MAD

Brits face 'avalanche' of £70 parking fines after new rules come into force

KISS ME QUICKSTEP

Strictly's Nadiya & Kai caught kissing in pic that proves they're an item

AIR IT OUT

Woman shares clever trick to dry clothes with no tumble dryer in under two hours

"He said, 'Oh, you'll be okay, dad' that's what he told him as he was dead on the pavement.

"That just sucks."

Rayan said that the couple, who had just announced they were pregnant for a second time as they celebrated their sixth anniversary, would spend weekends out preaching as they had on Saturday.

FATAL GUNSHOT WOUND

Police and medics responded to the scene on Texas Street in Montgomery, Alabama, at around 4.30pm on Saturday afternoon after reports of a person shot.

They found Hand who had suffered a fatal gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kozlowski, who was Miss Mississippi in 2008, confirmed her husband's death in a heartbreaking Facebook post on Sunday.

"Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers during this time of the passing of my husband Tommy Hand," she wrote.

"I feel the love and support from everyone and just wanted to let everyone know that indeed Tommy was shot and killed last night on Texas Street in Montgomery AL.

"I appreciate and welcome all of the messages, I’m just overwhelmed with all the questions and retelling of the details of what happened.

"I will at a later date release more information to explain everything to everyone.

Rayan said that Kozlowski is "just trying to be strong for the little boy" after the tragedy.

"I don't know how she's doing it really. She's trying to keep strong for her son.

"It's a crazy situation."

NEW BABY

Only two days before Hand's death, the couple had revealed in another Facebook post that Kozlowski is pregnant with their second child.

"The next Baby Hand Coming August 2022. Rest up baby boy, Mom is going to need your help,' she wrote in a Facebook message to her son.

On the same day, Hand had posted a loving tribute to his wife on their sixth anniversary.

"Beauty, smarts, caring about others, being an incredible mother, wife, and the list could go on and on," the young dad wrote.

"I never post much but wanted you to know today makes 6 years, happy anniversary Christine I love you very much, I can’t wait to meet our next baby this summer which is why I didn’t purchase you anything as I have already given you a gift."

Kozlowski competed in Miss America for Mississippi aged 19.

She and Hand met in the gym and married in 2016.

SUSPECT ARRESTED

Walker was arrested at the scene and is charged with capital murder.

Authorities said the secondary crime needed to charge a suspect with capital murder was shooting the victim in the presence of a child under the age of 14.

No motive for the crime has been revealed.

Cops continue to investigate as Walker is held in  Montgomery County Detention Center.

Anyone with any information related to this shooting should contact CrimeStoppers at 334-215-STOP, Secret Witness at 334-625-4000, or Montgomery Police Department at 334-625-2831.

    Source: Read Full Article

    Previous post I'm in love with my son's best friend, but I'm questioning our future
    Next post Monique Samuels Shares Picture-Perfect Family Photos In Kenya