A mother-of-four was shot by her ‘obsessed’ ex-boyfriend and left for dead in the parking lot of a Canadian strip mall, it has emerged.
Savannah Kulla, 29, was pronounced dead at the shopping center in Brampton, Ontario on Tuesday afternoon after being shot by Anthony Deschepper.
Deschepper, 38, fled the scene of the crime after abducting his and Kulla’s one-year-old daughter, CTV News reported. The young mother also had three sons from a prior relationship.
Police issued an Amber Alert for the infant, who was found safe after Deschepper left her in the care of family members in Niagara Falls.
Officers launched a manhunt for Deschepper and tracked him down at a gas station around 2.30am Wednesday.
He died following an ‘interaction’ with officers, the Ontario Special Investigations Unit said. It is believed he was shot dead by one officer who fired multiple rounds.
Although police found a gun at the scene, there is no evidence to suggest that Deschepper opened fire.
A woman, whose identity has not been released, was arrested at the scene and faces charges. She was allegedly driving the car that Deschepper had been travelling in.
Mother-of-four Savannah Kulla, 29, was shot by her ‘obsessed’ ex-boyfriend and left for dead in an Ontario strip mall parking lot on Tuesday afternoon
Anthony Deschepper, 38, is suspected of killing Kulla. He fled the scene of the crime after abducting his and Kulla’s one-year-old daughter
Kulla’s mother Karen claimed Deschepper ‘got crazy’ after the pair’s recent breakup, but said she never expected him to murder her daughter.
‘He was so in love with her, that’s what blows my mind. Like crazy in love with her … to the point where he’s obsessed,’ Karen told CityNews Everywhere.
The grieving mother claimed Kulla told him ‘this is over’ this past weekend after saying for awhile how she needed to ‘get away from him.’
Karen said she has been a ‘mess’ since her daughter’s horrific death, but added she is ‘glad’ that Deschepper is ‘gone.’
She said Kulla’s former partner – the father of her three boys – was ‘very afraid’ for the children’s safety when Deschepper was around them.
She added that Kulla, whom she hailed as an ‘overachiever,’ loved her ‘four kids more than anything.’
Kulla’s loved ones have taken to social media to pay tribute to the young mother. Bouquets of flowers have also been left in the parking lot where she died.
‘Love you so much beautiful,’ one friend wrote in a heartbreaking Facebook post. ‘You didn’t deserve this… rest in paradise… until we meet again.’
Kulla’s mother Karen claimed Deschepper ‘got crazy’ after the pair’s recent breakup. Pictured is Savannah Kulla
In addition to her infant, Kulla has three sons from a prior relationship
‘You deserve to be remembered so much better than this today. Rest in peace beautiful,’ another said.
‘Rip Savannah Kulla, such a beautiful soul gone too soon. Praying for your babied (sic) and family,’ echoed another.
Police have referred to Kulla’s death as an intimate partner-related homicide. A post-mortem examination for Deschepper is scheduled for Thursday.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799.SAFE (7233) for 24-hour, confidential support.
