Crystal Russ, 44, was killed and her estranged husband, William Broadus, 44, is believed to have shot her before killing himself during what was supposed to be a child custody exchange at a Pennsylvania home this week, according to the Allegheny County Police Department.
Background
Russ and Broadus had been married for approximately 10 years but were in the process of separating, according to Russ' family. The couple shared twins together.
On Tuesday afternoon, Russ was driving to the 6700 block of West Barvista Drive in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania — a township just northeast of Pittsburgh — to drop off their children with Broadus.
Family members believe Broadus shot Russ while her SUV was still moving, causing it to crash into a garage. Investigators say he then got inside the vehicle and shot himself.
Neighbors in the residential neighborhood recounted hearing several gunshots that weekday afternoon.
The Investigation
The Allegheny County Police Department said its Homicide Unit was asked to respond after someone called 911 reporting that a vehicle had crashed into a building on West Barvista Drive.
First responders encountered two individuals — an adult male and an adult female — shot inside the vehicle. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office identified both Broadus and Russ as those who died at the location.
"Preliminary information shows the shooting occurred inside the vehicle as part of a domestic situation," the law enforcement agency said in a statement. "There were no other injuries reported."
Russ' cousin, Alicia Rucker, described the alleged motive in interviews with local media.
"He couldn't take the separation," Rucker said. "He knew he would never find no one better than her."
Key Takeaways
- Crystal Russ, 44, and William Broadus, 44, were both found dead inside a vehicle in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania on Tuesday afternoon
- The couple had been married for about 10 years and was in the process of separating; they shared twin children together
- Police say the shooting occurred inside the moving SUV as part of a domestic-related incident before it crashed into a garage
- Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene by first responders
- The Allegheny County Police Homicide Unit is investigating the case as a homicide with an apparent suicide
What's Next
The Allegheny County Police Department's Homicide Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. No other injuries were reported, and authorities say there are no public safety concerns related to this incident.
A GoFundMe page established for Russ described her as "a devoted mother, a loving daughter, a cherished cousin, and a light in the lives of everyone who knew her" whose family is raising funds to support her four children.