A Nebraska woman was shot to death by her ex-boyfriend just hours after he was released from jail for violating his bond conditions in a previous domestic assault case. Authorities say the 54-year-old man forced his way into her home before shooting her multiple times and then attempting to take his own life.
The victim, a 36-year-old woman, was at her home when her 15-year-old daughter made a frantic call to 911 shortly before midnight. Officers arrived at the residence and found the front storm door partially open, with signs that the interior door had been forced in.
Moments later, the suspect emerged from the house with a bleeding face and a gun holstered in the front of his waistband. He had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound, which was later determined to be life-threatening.
Inside the home, officers discovered the woman lying on the bedroom floor with gunshot wounds to her forehead, arm, and chest. She showed no signs of life and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her daughter, who had called 911, was found unharmed inside a locked bedroom.
Emergency responders transported the suspect to the hospital, where he remained under law enforcement custody while receiving medical treatment. Authorities have not yet formally charged him in the case.
The history of violence between the two had been documented in previous police reports. The suspect had been arrested in December after allegedly attacking the victim in front of one of her other children. Reports detailed that he shoved her into shelving, doors, and walls, and threatened to shoot her. At one point, he was quoted as saying, “I will deck you, I will f—ing end you.”
Following this assault, the victim obtained a protection order against him. However, after posting bond, he violated those conditions by contacting her through a third party in January. He allegedly used this intermediary to send messages claiming he had information about her that could make the charges against him “go away.” When the victim reported the messages to law enforcement, he was arrested again.
A judge raised his bond to $75,000, which he posted just one day before the fatal shooting.
The couple had reportedly been in a relationship for about two years, and at one point, they were planning to marry and had purchased a home together. However, their relationship took a turn for the worse as the suspect became increasingly aggressive.
The victim’s father spoke about the tragedy, expressing his frustration that despite his daughter taking all the legal precautions available to her, she still lost her life. He noted that if the suspect had remained in custody, the killing would not have happened.
The case has once again highlighted the dangers of domestic violence and the limitations of protective measures when abusers are released back into the community.
