Omaha, Nebraska man, Jonathan Scott Hartley alleged to have gunned down his young girlfriend, Ashley Stephens- then self in murder suicide.
A 61-year-old Nebraska man is alleged to have shot dead his 28 year old girlfriend before fatally turning the gun on himself in a suspected murder suicide.
Jonathan Scott Hartley is alleged to have killed Ashley Stephens at their home in Omaha on Tuesday.
Authorities said Hartley had called 911 to report a shooting just before 5pm but quickly hung up.
First responders found Stephens, who has two young children from a previous relationship, dead when they arrived.
Hartley was found with a gun near him and was severely injured from a gunshot wound.
He was rushed to hospital but died on Wednesday night the Omaha World Herald reported.
.@DCSheriffNE identifies individuals involved in Tuesday afternoon murder suicide in Hillsborough. Authorities say 61-year-old Jonathan Hartley shot 28-year-old Ashley Stephens before turning the gun on himself. The two were believed to be in a domestic relationship. pic.twitter.com/GnSdkLY4an
— Omaha Scanner (@omaha_scanner) February 28, 2019
Jonathan Scott Hartley: Susceptible to mental health issues.
It is not clear how long Hartley and Stephens were dating but a GoFundMe page set up for the mother-of-two said her life was ‘tragically taken by someone she trusted and loved’.
Hartley was a businessman in Omaha who ran a company that trained emergency medical providers across the state.
Chris Hove, who is the father of Stephens’ two children, told WOWT that his ex had previously told him Hartley suffered from depression.
Hove, who has custody of the children, said he had always felt safe letting his children spend time with their mother’s boyfriend.
The children, aged four and five, were meant to be with their mother on the night of the shooting but stayed with their father due to a recent snowstorm.
Hove said it was heartbreaking having to tell his children that their mother was dead.
‘That look on my son’s face when he realized what it meant and that he’s never going to see mom again – I don’t ever want to see that face again, from anybody,’ Hove said.
It remained unclear if there had been prior instances of domestic violence at the home the couple shared.
Funds raised through the GoFundMe page will go towards Stephens’ funeral and her two children.
