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'There’s not enough security' | Victim's daughters advocating for healthcare workers' safety after man found guilty in deadly Dallas hospital shooting

Flowers' daughters, Sarah and Kelly Flowers, spoke with WFAA for their first sit-down interview since their mother was killed 13 months ago.

DALLAS — A Dallas County jury found 31-year-old Nestor Hernandez guilty of capital murder in last year's deadly shooting at Dallas Methodist Hospital on Nov. 9. 

Hernandez was convicted in the Oct. 22, 2022, shooting, which killed social worker Jacqueline Pokuaa and nurse Annette Flowers.

Nearly two weeks after the trial, Flowers' daughters, Sarah and Kelly Flowers, spoke with WFAA for their first sit-down interview since their mother was killed 13 months ago.

"She’s what held our entire family together," Sarah said. "She was the only parent we had." 

Flowers' family sat in the courtroom for every minute of the trial. They saw photos of their mother's autopsy and videos of her murder. 

"She knew, she knew that she was dying," cried Kelly. 

Annette, her daughters said, loved to dance. She loved rock-n-roll music, her favorite animals were cows, and she just had a granddaughter she couldn't wait to spoil. 

"She had bought so many things for my daughter that I didn’t know about…that I kept having to find…" cried Sarah. 

The Flowers daughters invited WFAA into their home because they want viewers to hear about their mission.

"To prevent this from happening to someone else’s mom," explained Sarah. 

Since their mother's death, the Flowers daughters said they've heard from dozens of healthcare workers all across the country who say they're simply not protected. 

"There’s not enough security, not enough vetting of people wandering the hospital," explained Sarah. 

Minimal or complete lack of metal detectors, they said are one example. In addition to beefed up safety and security in hospitals, the women also plan to advocate for better overall treatment of and benefits for healthcare workers.

"We want to know about any strikes, protests," they explained.

This week, following their mother's trial, the sisters made TikTok accounts in their mother's honor.

One account is called AnnetteWasThere, the other AnnettesLegacy.

On their accounts, the sisters will tell their mother's story, and also share the messages other nurses and healthcare workers across the country share with them about their experiences. 

They praised two other TikTok users, Masshole McGuido (@themassholemcguido) | TikTok and TheNurseErica (@the.nurse.erica) | TikTok for starting a campaign and speaking out after their mother's murder.

"Time is long overdue for these changes," said Sarah. 

"[Our mom's} happy…" she continued. "She’s proud of us."

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