The family of a 28-year-old mother and U.S. Army member in Florida is raising awareness about domestic violence after their beloved daughter was murdered by another soldier who she was allegedly dating.

According to ABC 7 News, Richard Smith shot and killed Angel Conner while the 28-year-old was stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The slain soldier was beaten in the face and head during the dispute at her apartment, with her eyes blackened, her jaw swollen and her nose bruised, Florida Today reports.

While Conner passed away during surgery in January, Smith is now charged with murder in the first degree, domestic abuse and reckless conduct with a firearm.

The 23-year-old suspect told police that Conner punched him and pulled a knife before he brandished the gun. Hoping to help people understand the horror of domestic violence, Conner's family decided to have an open casket.

“When she came back, the damage to her face was there. And when we were talking about the funeral, I thought about it and just said, ‘no,’ people need to see what happened to her,” Angel's mother, Gail, told Florida Today. “You need to understand what can happen.”

The 28-year-old U.S. Army soldier was preparing to deploy to Dubai after she was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Florida Today reported. Angel had visited her family in Cocoa, Florida, shortly before she returned to Fort Sill and lost her life. During her visit to Cocoa, the soldier spent time with her 6-year-old son.

“Our lives are forever changed. She was so beautiful…so good,” Gail said.

The grieving mother added that her daughter "was so happy with life."

"She knew who she was. She was focused, and despite all of that, this happened,” the victim's mother said. “People need to know what happened.”

According to Florida Today, Angel had dated Smith for nine months, but there were never any signs of abuse.

“As strong and as good as she was, this happened to Angel. And if it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone,” Gail said. “I want people to know that you don’t have to take it.”

Angel's sister, Jessica, said: “she never wanted to be in a relationship with this person."

"He had too much drama for her. He had other relationships,” Jessica said. “She told me she was going to break it off. She was just getting ready to deploy to Dubai in March.”

Angel had talked to her mother less than three hours before she was killed on January 18.

“I told her ‘I love you,’ and she said, ‘I love you too, mom.’ I had also spoken to (Smith),” Gail said. “Three hours later she would be dead.”

The 28-year-old victim was able to talk after being shot multiple times.

“The police told me that she was still able to talk. She was able to say (Smith) did this to her. He shot her as she ran downstairs and out of the apartment,” Gail said.

While they strive to raise awareness about domestic violence, the family is now waiting for court hearings in Oklahoma.

“We used to talk to our kids about the future. We’d tell them, ’you’re either going into the service or college.' So Angel got into the (Jr. Reserve Officer Training Corps),” Gail said.

Angel joined the Army full time in March 2019 and met Richard while she was stationed in Fort Sill, Florida Today reported.

According to a 2003 report by The National Criminal Justice Reference Service, which is one of the more recent studies looking at domestic violence in the armed force, 22% of active-duty women reported partner violence during military service.

Angel Conner

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