KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On April 27, the Knoxville Police Department responded to a domestic violence call where they said they saw a woman, Winter Basurto, shot in the face. Officers who arrived on the scene then shot and killed 25-year-old Jamauri Griffin.
After the shooting, Basurto was sent to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for surgery and treatment.
"Winter is a vivacious young lady. Just beautiful, caring. She's the best big sister. She's an incredible daughter. She is just your average normal teenage girl," said Michelle Braiden, a friend of Basurto's. "The family is dear to me, for many reasons. Michelle and I have been friends for almost a decade. We have been through a lot together."
Officers had previously responded to reports of gunshots within the same home in February with a warrant stating Griffin, an ex-boyfriend, had bought flowers for Basurto in an attempt to win her back.
When Basurto denied his attempt, he destroyed the flowers and shot at her car's driver's side tire, court documents said. Griffin was then charged with reckless endangerment.
Braiden said Basurto has a long road ahead of her before fully recovering.
"They are just getting started, at the very beginning stages of what Winter is going to need. She has an incredible team of surgeons that are with her, that are putting together a plan day-by-day, and we know this is going to be a long road ahead of them," said Braiden.
Braiden created a GoFundMe fundraiser for Basurto's family in the hopes of helping to pay for medical bills. She said she is hoping to involve local businesses in the effort to raise money for her family. It has a goal of raising $75,000.
"I know East Tennessee is going to show up for Winter and her family without a doubt," Braiden said, "Winter is the young lady that shows up. If there is a time of need, Winter shows up, she is loving, she's caring, she is beautiful."
There are also plans to work with local restaurants for fundraising, according to Braiden.