Officer, friend of murder victim delivers news of her death to her children

SHEPHERDSVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A law enforcement officer and friend of the Lebanon Junction mother who police say was shot and killed by her neighbor, had the daunting task of telling her children their mother was dead.

Detective Scotty McGaha, a Lieutenant with the Bullitt County Sheriff's Office, helped the family some time ago and recently brought Christmas gifts to the victim's three girls thanks to donations from his fellow officers and Louisville Metro police where his son is an officer.

[PREVIOUS STORY: Family: Teen murder suspect had mental issues]

He said delivering the news was one of the toughest things he's ever had to do.

McGaha drove up on the murder scene on Walnut Street in Lebanon Junction Thursday, when a fellow officer told him not to go in. That officer knew McGaha and his family had befriended the victim, 37-year-old Tina Zamora, and her three young daughters.

Zamora's neighbor, Austin Allen, 18, is charged in her shooting death.

Allen's grandmother, Joyce Hodge, said she and her friend Zamora were in her dining room when her grandson walked in. She says Allen shot Zamora two times out of the blue with a gun stolen from another neighbor's home.

"I got on his back," Hodge recalled, "and I said 'Austin, Austin please leave her alone, leave her alone Austin!'"

With the children's father living in Mexico and grandparents out of state, McGaha - who had just spoken with Zamora Tuesday - was asked to break the news to the three girls ages 12, 11 and 7.

McGaha said, "They had kind of bonded to me and they knew me and I agreed to do that and it's hard, but I did agree and I told the oldest one first at her school and we left there and went to Lebanon Junction Elementary to tell the two smaller children."

McGaha has seen a lot of death in his long career but said because he's close to the girls, it was one of the hardest days of his life.

"It still grabs you and it touches your heart," he said, "especially when you know them personally, it's hard."

Several officers helped set up a fund for funeral services and to help the girls.

McGaha and his wife had emergency custody until another relative was found Friday in the area.

He said, "My main thing is that they are with somebody and they are loved."

A gofundme account for the girls is set up in Tina Zamora's name. To donate, click here.

Kentucky State Police are continuing to investigate the shooting.

Copyright 2015 WAVE 3 News. All rights reserved.