Indiana: K. Lee, 25, was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend J. Thompson, also 25. The killing left Indiana in shock and left her three children without a mother. The terrible thing happened while Lee and a friend were making a TikTok movie.
It all went wrong early Saturday morning in the kitchen of a house where Lee was staying with her friend. Authorities say Thompson broke a protective order against him because of a domestic violence event in April. He went against the order to confront Lee and kill her. During a fun time, when the two women were dancing and lip-syncing to a song on TikTok, the shocking video was taken. Thompson showed up with a gun outside of a kitchen window and shot Lee before running away.
According to the probable cause statement, what happened next was very bad. Lee was hit by the bullets and fell down, out of view of the camera, as smoke filled the room. Her friend saw the whole thing happen and wasn’t hurt, but she was definitely frightened. Even though the kids were in the flat at the time, they were not hurt. Reports say Thompson was the father of Lee’s son, who is one year old.
When Thompson called 911 after the shooting, he allegedly admitted to the crime because his brother told him to. Thompson stated that he was angry at Lee and suspicious of what she was doing because he thought she might be having other men in the apartment while he was being arrested. In his confession, he said that he planned to do what he did, like watching the flat before he decided to shoot Lee.
Lee’s death has left deep wounds in the community and in her family. Jannette, Lee’s cousin, started a GoFundMe effort to help pay for the funeral and give Lee’s three children support during this terrible time. As a tribute to Lee’s life, the ad also talks about how her untimely death has left a huge hole in the lives of those who knew her.
Joshua Thompson is being charged with murder, criminal recklessness for shooting into a building, carrying a gun without a permit, and invasion of privacy for breaking a protection order. The charges against Thompson were based on strong evidence, and the judge set no bond. Thompson is due back in court on September 9. The seriousness of the charges shows how bad the crime was and how hard people are working to get Lee justice.
Lee’s death is a stark warning of how dangerous domestic violence is. People who knew her said she was a lively and loving mother. Her family and community are deeply saddened by her death. She was loved by her family, a good mother, and someone who made the lives of those around her better, according to her biography.
As the case goes through the court system, the community continues to support Lee’s family and call for justice for what was such a cruel and senseless act. The case has also led to wider conversations about how to protect victims of domestic violence better and how to stop these kinds of tragedies from happening again.