A Lawrence woman is in recovery after being shot in a domestic violence situation last week, and her loved ones are raising money for her mounting medical expenses.
Carissa Schmidt, 22, was critically injured and taken to a hospital by helicopter after she was shot on Thursday, July 17.
Schmidt has been alert and talkative when she’s not sleeping, her friend Caitlyn Matthys said on Tuesday.
Schmidt was shot in her arm and in her back, Matthys said. She remains under care at the University of Kansas hospital, and her first surgery on Monday went smoothly, Matthys said.
“It’s definitely hard to watch, but we’re OK,” Matthys said, referring to Schmidt’s loved ones. “We’re hanging in there. We’re all trying to stay as positive as possible for her.”
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• Lawrence police release names of slain man, suspected shooter, July 18, 2025
Schmidt’s mother gave The Lawrence Times permission to publish her daughter’s name and photo in addition to the fundraiser. Lawrence police did not release Schmidt’s name in the aftermath but did eventually release names of another person who was shot and killed in the same incident as well as the suspected shooter.
The shootings occurred shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday in the southern end of a complex in the 1600 block of Haskell Avenue.
Police said Schmidt came home to find 24-year-old Donavon Deleon, of Lawrence, in her residence. The two had recently ended a relationship, police said.
After an altercation inside, Schmidt fled outside to a nearby truck where 21-year-old Javien Hardin, of Lawrence, was waiting, according to police.
Matthys said Hardin was a member of her and Schmidt’s friend group. Matthys said Schmidt had thought Deleon might be at her house, although he wasn’t supposed to be, and that Hardin was only present to protect her.
“He was just there, and he was a guy, and that’s a problem,” Matthys said. “Donavon was not OK with any male figure in Carissa’s life.”
Police allege that Deleon shot Hardin inside the truck. We were unable to reach family members of Hardin as of publication time Tuesday.
Police say Deleon pursued Schmidt and shot her as she ran away. They believe Deleon then took his own life, they said.
Matthys said Schmidt’s supporters have been thinking of and praying for Deleon’s family, as well.
“He obviously needed help. He obviously had more stuff going on his mind than we could have imagined, and it’s awful,” she said.
Matthys organized a Spotfund page over the weekend to help with Schmidt’s medical bills and recovery, and as of Tuesday afternoon, people had donated $3,775 of the $10,000 goal. Donations can be made to the Spotfund webpage.
Get help in Lawrence
Domestic violence situations: The Willow Domestic Violence Center
- Reach the Willow for help 24/7 at 785-843-3333.
- Find more resources on the Willow’s website at this link.
- National hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text “START” to 88788, and/or visit thehotline.org to chat and learn more, 24/7.
File for an order of protection
In Kansas, victim-survivors of stalking and abuse can file for court orders of protection from abuse or stalking online. Visit kspop.org and follow the instructions on the website. The service is available for any county in Kansas. You can also file for a protection order with traditional paper forms; check this link for more information.
Learn the warning signs
Read about warning signs of domestic violence and emotional abuse and learn how you can help at this link.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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