20-year-old woman died after her ex-boyfriend she was in the process of obtaining restraining order against confronted her at a parking lot after months of stalking and shot her dead

Michigan – In a deeply tragic case out of Michigan, a 20-year-old woman, identified as S. Carroll, lost her life at the hands of the very person she had been trying to protect herself from. Carroll, a student and aspiring physician’s assistant, was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend in a parking lot after enduring months of stalking. The gunman, identified by family members only as Lincoln, then turned the weapon on himself in what authorities have described as a murder-suicide.

Though no formal charges will be filed due to the shooter’s death, the incident remains under investigation by the police department. Carroll’s family has revealed she was in the process of obtaining a restraining order at the time of her murder—a legal step meant to create distance from the threat she had lived with for two months.

The shooting took place at an apartment complex on a Saturday night. According to Carroll’s mother, her daughter had been trying to move on after ending a nearly year-long relationship that had taken a dark turn. The ex-boyfriend had been stalking Carroll for weeks, and despite her efforts to escape his reach, he found her once more. “He was stalking her for the past two months,” her mother told news sources. “And he came here last night, shot her, called 911, said he killed his girlfriend, and then shot himself.”

According to a witness, the violent encounter unfolded in the apartment complex’s parking lot. The witness recounted that their son had been visiting a friend when he saw Carroll confronting her ex-boyfriend. In that moment, the man allegedly pulled out a shotgun and fired, striking Carroll before killing himself. While those specific details have not yet been confirmed by police, authorities did state that the shooter called 911 after the murder to report what he had done before taking his own life. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but nothing could be done to save Carroll. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Carroll was not only a daughter and a friend—she was a young woman with big dreams. Her father said she was studying and working toward a career as a physician’s assistant. He remembered her as brilliant, kind, and driven. “She was a wonderful person. She’d light up her room whenever she’d come in. She had a smile that was just brilliant and she was so smart. She was on the Dean’s List,” he said.

A GoFundMe page created to help cover funeral expenses echoed the heartbreak felt by her family and community. “Our hearts are shattered as we share that our beautiful Carroll was taken from us far too soon due to gun violence,” the fundraiser read. It described her as smart, brave, strong—someone whose presence could light up any room. By Thursday, the fundraiser had collected over $21,000 in donations.

Carroll’s case is a grim reminder of the danger faced by victims of stalking and intimate partner violence. She was actively trying to secure legal protection, but time ran out. Her death raises urgent questions about how swiftly protective measures can be enacted and enforced for those in imminent danger. While there will be no trial or sentencing in this case due to the shooter’s death, the pain lingers for those left behind. Carroll was doing everything right—seeking help, taking steps to stay safe—but the system simply didn’t move fast enough.