Mum shouted two words moments before a grenade blast tore through her home —they may have saved her children’s lives
Parents are naturally protective of their children and often go to great lengths to keep them safe. A similar situation unfolded in an English village in Bristol, when a woman’s ex-partner detonated a grenade at the doorstep of her parents’ home, as reported by The Mirror on May 5, 2026. The mom, 35-year-old Joanne Shaw, lost her life after the tragic incident took place. However, moments before the explosion, she managed to protect her child by giving them one simple instruction.
Joanne Shaw and her former partner, Ryan Kelly, lost their lives in the blast that took place at her parents' home. However, a neighbor, Stuart Blanchard, later revealed the crucial step she took to keep her child safe during the terrifying incident. The explosion unfolded early in the morning, but moments before, the mom had already found a way to keep her kid away from the fatal attack. According to the neighbor, Joanne and Ryan were arguing in the house when she asked the youngster to go outside and play on the trampoline. It was that single act that kept them away from the house as it exploded from the grenade detonated by Kelly.
“She probably told [the child] to go out there to get out of the way of them arguing. I was woken to her [Joanne] shouting 'go away, go away,' and then there was this loud boom that shook my door and windows,” said the neighbor. Later, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that 35-year-old Joanne Shaw and her 41-year-old ex-partner, Ryan Kelly, both lost their lives in the blast. Police officers were dispatched at around 6:17 a.m. on Sunday after receiving reports of a domestic disturbance. Just minutes later, shortly after 6:30 a.m., the explosion occurred. Authorities also revealed that the couple had a history of domestic violence. It was revealed that the man wasn't living with Joanne, but had gone there to see her. Kelly had previously been convicted for acting as a foot soldier in a “Breaking Bad-style" drug gang and allegedly arrived at Joanne’s home with a grenade, which he detonated at the doorstep.
A friend of Joanne’s mother said she had already guessed the blast was connected to Ryan Kelly. “I’m afraid I just knew it had to be him because of what’s gone on with him before,” she said. Kelly was also sentenced to five years in prison in 2015 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine for a crystal meth gang. Avon and Somerset Police Superintendent Matt Ebbs said, "Jo's death has been officially recorded as a homicide based on the information known to us at this time. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with her death.” The neighbors continue to offer their condolences, remembering and honoring the mom as a "lovely" woman, and ultimately a hero, for saving her child's life.
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