Iowa – In a harrowing episode of domestic violence that escalated to a deadly shooting in Iowa, a 24-year-old man, identified as H. Smajlovic, is now facing serious charges after killing his ex-girlfriend’s mother and severely injuring her father. The violence unfolded as the couple was attempting to help their daughter pack and move out of the home following her breakup with the assailant.
On November 1, around 5:20 p.m., Smajlovic reportedly opened fire on his ex-girlfriend’s parents. The victims, 45-year-old Ruth and her 52-year-old husband Tony, were in the process of helping their 24-year-old daughter, Jasmyne, retrieve her belongings from the home she once shared with Smajlovic. This assistance came after the young woman decided to end her relationship with Smajlovic due to what was described as a “domestic situation” by local news outlets.
The confrontation led to Ruth’s untimely death from a gunshot wound to the head. Her husband was critically injured in the attack, as he also sustained a gunshot wound to the head and remains in critical condition at a local hospital. The shootings have sent shockwaves through their community and have highlighted the dangers of domestic disputes escalating to violence.
Authorities responded swiftly to the incident, with the sheriff’s deputies arriving at the scene to find the victims suffering from their injuries. Smajlovic was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and intimidation with a dangerous weapon.
According to the criminal complaint, Smajlovic used a 9 mm pistol to commit the heinous act. He is accused of not only shooting both victims in the head but also firing additional shots in the home, attempting to shoot his ex-girlfriend as well. Fortunately, she was not physically harmed in the incident.
“The defendant did knowingly, intentionally and willingly fire a live 9 mm round into an occupied residence at the victim, while in the commission of a murder and attempted murder of two other victims in the home at the time of the shooting,” stated the criminal complaint. This assertion underlines the premeditated nature of the attack as outlined by the authorities.
Currently, Smajlovic is being held without bond in the jail, awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for today, November 12. The legal proceedings are closely watched by a community still reeling from the violent act that has not only claimed a life but has also left a family grappling with the severe injury of a loved one and the traumatic aftermath of the event.
This case has also reignited conversations around domestic violence and the critical importance of supporting individuals attempting to leave potentially dangerous domestic situations. The investigation remains ongoing, with further details expected to emerge as the court proceedings progress. Meanwhile, the community and the victims’ family await justice for the unimaginable losses they have suffered—a life cut tragically short and another hanging in the balance.
