In a harrowing incident that occurred on April 16, 2024, Ashley Bird, a 35-year-old mother and social media strategist, was fatally shot in her home in La Presa, California while participating in a work-related Zoom call.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that her estranged husband, Christopher Bird, 39, who was later found dead, is believed to be the perpetrator in what appears to be a case of murder-suicide.

Deputies responded to a 911 call around 10:25 a.m., initially reported as a potential break-in at Ashley’s residence. Upon arrival, they discovered her with a gunshot wound to the head, lying on a couch. Despite immediate efforts, Ashley was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her sister, Allison Saefong, recounted the tragic events to NBC San Diego, noting that Ashley was in the middle of a meeting when she abruptly excused herself to investigate suspicious noises she believed were someone attempting to break into her house.

“She was always so composed, so when she said she thought someone was breaking in, we knew it was serious,” Saefong shared. “She even told her colleague on the Zoom call, ‘Give me a second. Somebody is trying to break into my house.’ And then she never returned to the call.”

The narrative swiftly changed when the sheriff’s department later found Christopher Bird’s body inside his vehicle at Calafia Beach Park in San Clemente. This tragic outcome ended a search that involved multiple law enforcement agencies and shed light on a deeper, ongoing conflict between Ashley and Christopher, who were separated and undergoing divorce proceedings.

Saefong revealed to reporters that although the separation was fraught with emotional strain, Ashley had never expressed fear of physical violence from Christopher. “She denied any physical abuse,” Saefong said. “Even with the volatile emails and texts, she believed he wouldn’t physically harm her.”

Further investigation by authorities uncovered that Christopher had recently received court documents related to spousal and child support, which might have exacerbated the contentious situation. The couple had been married for over a decade and were finalizing their divorce and custody arrangements concerning their nine-year-old son, William.

On the day of the shooting, William was in school, unaware of the tragic events unfolding. After the incident, he was safely placed with other family members. In response to these devastating events, the family has organized a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses and support William’s future. The page describes Ashley as a “kind, warm-hearted, generous soul” whose sudden loss has deeply impacted the community.

“Ashley was taken from us too soon in life and she will be dearly missed by all her friends and family,” reads a heartfelt message on the fundraising page. “She had such an impact on everyone around her.”

As the community grapples with this tragedy, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department continues its investigation into the circumstances leading up to the deaths. The case remains under scrutiny, with more details pending from the ongoing police inquiry and the results from the Orange County Coroner’s Office regarding Christopher’s cause of death.