Candlelight vigil planned Thursday at car wash where crime spree started
RIVERSIDE, Mo. — Katie Bjorklund's family is planning a candlelight vigil Thursday night to remember the 33-year-old veterinary worker.
She was simply vacuuming out her car at the NW Vivion Road car wash in Riverside when she was shot and killed. The Platte County Sheriff's Office said there was no known association between Bjorklund and .
'To me it seemed like she was vacuuming her car and he just needed a car to get away and she was a lonely female there and he just took it upon himself to kill her and take her car,' her aunt Tina Patrzykont said.
'She's just a sweetheart and didn't deserve at all what happened to her,' her aunt Kelly Wyrick -Statley said.
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From there Manning would take her car to his 5 year old daughter's home, where he shot and killed her 12-old-brother Giuiliani Calderdon and also shot their mother, Mercedes Ontiveros, who remains in the hospital.
'That was not necessary at all, that poor baby,'Wyrick-Statley said.
'I just want to send prayers and love out to that family, because they did not deserve what happened to them just as much as Katie,' Patrzykont said.
Calderon's family shared on a GoFundMe unfortunately it's the second time the family has lost someone from violent crime. Giuliani's father, Alfredo Calderon, was killed in the 2019 KCK bar shooting at Tequila KC. He and three others died.
FOX4 has also confirmed a George C. Manning III with the same birthdate was previously charged in Jackson County with murder in 2008 and sentenced for 12 years for voluntary manslaughter. By 2019 he was out of jail and charged with alleged crimes in Wyandotte County.
No motive has been given in either shooting last week. FOX4 spoke last week with another carjacking victim in the crime spree who survived after trying to prevent his truck from being taken.
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Bjorklund's family says the 33-year-old veterinary worker had her dog with her. The dog was later found. They believe she would have turned over her car, but aren't sure Manning ever gave her a chance.
'She was loved and a senseless act of crime. Just keep your family close and tell them that you love them everyday, because nobody is guaranteed anything. Anything can change in a split second,' Patrzykont said.
The candlelight vigil is planned for 7 p.m. Thursday. Bjorkland's family says anyone is welcome, but they also really want to invite the other family to be able to remember the 12 year old victim as well. He was a 7th grader at Walden Middle School.
A friend of the boy's family .
'As of right now, we are still all in shock and taking it day by day… And Mercedes is recovering from her injuries. The family is doing the best as expected with the love and support from everyone.'
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