Mom of 3 killed by ex-boyfriend while filming TikTok with friend, police say
NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WAVE/Gray News) - A mother of three was killed by her ex-boyfriend while she was filming a TikTok with her friend, according to authorities.
New Albany Police responded to shots fired at the Valley Ridge Apartments early Saturday morning.
When officers arrived, they found 25-year-old Kaitlynn Lee with a fatal gunshot wound.
Officials said Lee was at an apartment with her friend when she was shot and killed. Lee’s friend told police they were making a TikTok video in the kitchen when they heard banging at the window, according to documents obtained by WAVE
She said she heard Lee ask, “What are you doing here?” just before she was shot 2–3 times. She told police that right before her friend was shot, she saw 25-year-old Joshua Thompson standing outside the window alone, aiming a gun at Lee.
The woman told officers that Thompson and Lee have a toxic relationship and are “always at odds” with each other.
Pamela Greenwell, Lee’s aunt, described how her niece had moved three times in the last four months.
“In April of this year, she called me and he had beat her really badly,” Greenwell said. “And I went and picked her up. And she was blue and black, like all over. He was arrested and brought down here to county jail. They issued an EPO to protect Kaitlynn and it didn’t protect her. It didn’t protect her.”
Her family told WAVE that they’re devasted.
“She’s suffered enough loss and heartbreak in her life and did not deserve any of this. Her babies don’t deserve this,” the family said.
WAVE reported that Thompson ran from the scene and called his brother crying. Thompson’s brother told police that he admitted while on the phone to shooting Lee in the head and killing her.
Thompson called 911 and allegedly told police that he had shot the mother of his child and that he would turn himself in.
Detectives reviewed the TikTok video that showed Lee and the other woman laughing, dancing, and singing before they stopped and turned away from the camera, looking toward the back kitchen window.
A blast over by the window is seen and the video shuts off.
Thompson allegedly told police that he drove to Lee’s apartment, watching from the outside to see who was there.
Despite a no-contact order, he told police he wanted to see if Lee was with any men inside the apartment.
Thompson has been charged with murder. He appeared for the first time in court Monday afternoon.
He is now facing additional charges, including invasion of privacy, criminal recklessness and unlawful carrying of a handgun.
Thompson will be held without bond until his trial, which has been set for March 24.
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