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A 25-year-old woman from Indiana was tragically killed by her ex-boyfriend while filming a TikTok video inside her apartment, according to police reports. The victim, Kaitlynn Lee, was shot in the head, and her ex-boyfriend, Joshua Thompson, 25, has been arrested in connection with her death.
Police in New Albany responded to a report of a shooting at around 5 a.m. at Lee’s residence. Upon arrival, they found Lee with a gunshot wound to her head. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The affidavit reveals that Lee and a witness were making TikTok videos in the kitchen when they heard banging on the window. The witness reported that Lee asked the person at the window—later identified by police as Thompson—“What are you doing here?” before Thompson allegedly fired two to three shots at Lee, according to WAVE.
Investigators reviewed the TikTok video the women had been making. The footage showed them “laughing, dancing and lip-synching” before the shooting occurred. The video abruptly ends with Lee’s body falling out of the frame and smoke lingering in the room.
According to the affidavit, the witness told police that Lee and Thompson had a “toxic relationship” and were “always at odds.” The witness also mentioned that Lee had previously said if she was ever found dead, it would be “Joshua [that] killed her.”
Floyd County Prosecutor Chris Lane emphasized the seriousness of domestic violence cases. He told WHAS11, “We take domestic violence allegations seriously. And we’re taking them seriously in this case.” Lane added, “Unfortunately this is not unusual for these allegations and circumstances, relationships can lead to tragic results and unfortunately the allegations are that’s what happened.”
Thompson’s brother reported to investigators that Thompson had called him “crying and distraught,” seeking advice. Thompson later contacted the police himself, claiming he had “shot the mother of his child.”
During an interview with authorities, Thompson allegedly admitted to knocking on the apartment window with a handgun, despite a no-contact order filed against him by Lee. He purportedly said he was checking to see if there were other men in the apartment and “admitted to pulling the trigger of the gun.” The handgun and a single shell casing were recovered outside the window.
Thompson is currently being held without bond at the Floyd County Jail. He faces charges including invasion of privacy, criminal recklessness, and unlawful carrying of a handgun. It is unclear whether he has entered a plea or retained legal representation.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
