The poignant words of a mother who died a ‘hero’ by saving her son when her gangster ex blew up her home with a ‘grenade’ have been revealed.
Joanne Shaw, 35, was killed last Sunday by her violent ex Ryan Kelly, 41, in a suspected murder-suicide when he forced his way into the house in Bristol and set off the blast.
The young mother-of-one had fled from him in fear for her safety and moved back in with her family on Sterncourt Road. She had repeatedly called police over his behaviour before her death.
She was able to save her child’s life in the moments before the explosion by sending him outside to play on a trampoline after a serious argument began between her and Kelly.
Loving tributes poured in for Ms Shaw, with her heartbroken family paying homage to her ‘warmth, kindness, and strength’.
Now, a close friend has revealed that she had a love of poetry and shared some of her tender lyrics in which she evokes her ‘unbreakable, precious thread’ with her family.
The poem, published on a Gofundme page set up to raise money for Ms Shaw’s funeral and funds for her only child, read: ‘Although it isn’t visible, we always know it’s there. Our bond cannot be broken; our souls will never part. My family’s always with me, no matter where we are.’
Josie Quinn, who set up the fundraiser, said her ‘beautiful friend’ was ‘one of the most caring and selfless people anyone could have known’.
The poignant words of a mother-of-once Joanne Shaw, 35, (pictured) who died a ‘hero’ by saving her son when her gangster ex blew up her home with a ‘grenade’ have been revealed
Floral tributes left outside the house in Bristol where Ms Shaw was killed by her violent ex Ryan Kelly, 41
She said: ‘She always put others before herself and brought light, warmth, and kindness to everyone around her.
‘Her child was her entire world. Anyone who knew Jo knew she would have done anything to protect them.
‘No child should ever have to experience such a loss. Their world has been turned upside down, losing the person who loved them unconditionally, who made them feel safe, and who was always there for them.’
Ms Quinn also revealed that Ms Shaw’s family had been destroyed in the explosion.
The Gofundme has raised more than £15,000 since it was set up two days ago with an £18,000 target.
Avon and Somerset Police has made a mandatory referral to the IOPC due to its recent contact with Ms Shaw and is treating her death as murder.
Police had been called around 15 minutes before the explosion – which was heard at 6.32am – and informed at 6.30am that the man in the property was believed to have an explosive device. Kelly also died in the blast.
The blast moments later also injured three people, believed to be her son and two other family members. They have now all been discharged from hospital.
Avon and Somerset Police has made a mandatory referral to the IOPC due to its recent contact with the victim and are treating her death as murder.
It was also revealed that Kelly was jailed for five years in 2015 after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine as part of a ‘Breaking Bad’ gang that sold drugs for a 78-year-old battling cancer.
Ms Shaw’s grieving family released a tribute earlier this week in which they said that ‘Joanne brought warmth, kindness, and strength into the lives of countless people’.
‘Her loving presence will be missed more than words can ever express, but her memory will forever remain in our hearts,’ they said, before adding: ‘Her child has suffered the unimaginable loss of their mummy in this tragedy. Joanne’s love for her child was boundless, and the centre of her world. She was a devoted and loving mother.
Kelly had forced his way into the property before he set off the blast in a suspected murder-suicide
Aerial footage of the home in Sterncourt Road, in Bristol, on Monday, May 4, with the front and rear window boarded up
Loving tributes poured in for Ms Shaw, with her heartbroken family paying homage to her ‘warmth, kindness, and strength’
‘Joanne’s actions were nothing short of heroic. She showed extraordinary strength, selflessness, and love in the face of unimaginable fear, placing herself between danger and those she loved.
‘She will always be remembered not for the violence inflicted upon her, but for her bravery, her protective instinct, and the ultimate sacrifice she made for others.
‘We ask for privacy at this deeply difficult time as we mourn our tragic loss. Joanne will always be in our memories, our thoughts, and our hearts.
‘We love you forever, sweetheart. Mummy, I miss you and love you so much.’
Ms Shaw, known as Jo, grew up in the Stapleton area of Bristol where her family said she was well-known for her ‘bubbly, friendly personality’.
They said she loved meeting new people, listening to their stories, sharing advice and forming connections resulting in ‘eternal friendships’.
She was the ‘life and soul not only of the party, but our lives’, they added.
Shocked neighbours who witnessed the explosion spoke of a ‘loving family’ that has been torn apart by the tragedy.
Neighbour Stuart Blanchard said: ‘The partner’s gone there in a mental state. It wasn’t Jo’s house, it was her parent’s, she just lived there. She had split up with him and I think she moved there to escape from him.
‘She had been complaining to the police for some time before this incident and he had been harassing her.
‘I’d heard the shouting before while having breakfast, something like ‘get out, get out’ but there’s something every week in this area so I didn’t go out.
‘Then there was a bang, it shook my front door. But my friend heard the kicking so went over. I thought it was a gas explosion so stayed inside.
‘I’ve heard it was a hand grenade. I spoke to the guy who called 999 and he said the child was out on the trampoline. It will haunt him. She probably told him to go out there to get out of the way of them arguing.
‘The police were here in seconds, they were called before the explosion. Another friend said he saw the police giving Jo CPR but when the explosives team arrived they had to leave in case there were more explosions. It was awful for them.’
A mugshot of Kelly in 2015 when he was jailed for five years after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine as part of a ‘Breaking Bad’ gang that sold drugs for a 78-year-old battling cancer
Ms Shaw’s uncle, John Shaw, told the Daily Mail: ‘My younger brother Anthony rang me to tell me that she’d been killed and that her ex had let a grenade off in the house.
‘I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and am still struggling to make sense of all this. My brother was hardly able to speak, he was crying down the phone.
‘We called my niece Joey. She was a wonderful woman and a great mother.
‘I don’t understand why anybody would want to harm her in any way. The man who did this is the scum of the earth and it’s a good job he died because otherwise I’d have killed him myself.’
Kwestan Ahmed added: ‘I heard screaming and shouting but I’m not sure if it was them or the police. I thought the bang was a car crash, I’d never ever think it could be a bomb.’
Ms Shaw’s house in Bristol was also previously the registered address of a local family-based gardening business.
Superintendent Matt Ebbs previously said: ‘We know people will be shocked and upset to learn of the horrendous events that happened on Sunday morning.
‘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.
‘We know everyone’s thoughts and sympathies will be with her devastated family. Specially-trained officers are providing them with updates and support.’
