Orphaned children need help

Shooting victim dies

Orphaned after their father killed their mother and then himself, two Marion teenagers need the community's help.

Gina McKinnon, 40, died Wednesday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Her husband, Shannon McKinnon, 45, shot her in the face during a dispute at the couple's home on Nov. 23.

Their children, who witnessed the shooting, fled safely to a neighbor's house.

Gina McKinnon was hit by a shotgun blast to the head; her upper arm was nearly severed. She emerged later from the house into the care of sheriff's Deputy Tom Allen.

She wrote a note to him saying that her husband had shot himself.

Harborview confirmed Wednesday morning that Gina McKinnon died after lingering in extremely critical condition for a week.

The Marion Fire Department Auxiliary is beginning a fund-raiser to help the 13-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy.

"Christmas - that's the first thing that comes to my mind," said John Leach, chief of the fire department. "I don't think they were a wealthy family to start with."

The children are staying with a neighbor for now. They are going to school and trying to put together semblances of their lives. Leach said he doesn't know if that will become a permanent living arrangement for them.

He's certain that they could use some normal teenage distractions such as CDs or video games.

Mostly, though, the auxiliary hopes to raise cash for the children.

Donations may be mailed to Marion Fire Department Auxiliary, P.O. Box 1301, Marion, MT 59925. They should be designated as contributions to the children because the fire department has its own fund-raisers under way and doesn't want to mingle the money.

Anyone with questions may call Larry Brower, a fire department trustee and chairman of the auxiliary. His number is 854-2080.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com