CA - Pastor Noah Shepherd shot, wife not charged, San Diego, July 2021

[IceIce9]

This is a recent case in Indiana

Docs: Mother aided by daughter in killing Carmel man; plot included poisoning oatmeal with fentanyl - WISH-TV | Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic

 

[Knox]

Noah Shepherd delivered his last sermon on Sunday, July 11, 2021. In it, he spoke about health issues that he had recently been experiencing, and said he had been in the hospital for treatment, according to CBS 8 San Diego. He said the illness led to a “difficult week” for himself and his wife, who he called Gaby.

“It’s been a very difficult week for Gaby and I. I’ve been very ill. Praise the lord not COVID – nothing like that. Praise the lord nothing life threatening either,” he told his congregants, according to the news outlet.

Just a few days later, police said he was shot to death in his own yard.
Gabriela Rose Shepherd: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com

@al66pine - Here's the home. Google Maps
Overhead - Google Maps

 

[Shamrock1]

So she has been charged?

 

[TGIRecovered]

So she has been charged?

Those articles are old, July 13 and 14th. I believe she was arrested the night of the shooting and released the next day.

MOO

 

[Shamrock1]

I know some here went straight to (very reasonable) suspicions of poisoning RE his illnesses. I wonder if the stress of his hospitalization + recent birth of second child triggered…something? Maybe she was sleep-deprived and took a brief nap and was so startled by the sound of the back door that she just started shooting? I don’t know. There’s a lot missing.

Birth of second child: https://www.christiantoday.com/arti...lly.shooting.husband.at.their.home/137119.htm

 

[Shamrock1]

Those articles are old, July 13 and 14th. I believe she was arrested the night of the shooting and released the next day.

MOO

you’re right - I should have checked the dates. Thanks!

 

[TGIRecovered]

I know some here went straight to (very reasonable) suspicions of poisoning RE his illnesses. I wonder if the stress of his hospitalization + recent birth of second child triggered…something? Maybe she was sleep-deprived and took a brief nap and was so startled by the sound of the back door that she just started shooting? I don’t know. There’s a lot missing.

Birth of second child: Pastor's wife released without charge after fatally shooting husband at their home

I wish that there was more awareness about the severity of postpartum depression. Sleep deprivation and hormonal imbalances can combine to make a new mother extremely hyper-vigilant.

I have been there and I can tell you that it was similar to being in a dream-like state. ( not peaceful dreaming; fearful dreaming ) I truly felt like I couldn’t ever fall completely asleep because I had to be alert for the baby. I regularly awoke in a panic, having dreamt that I couldn’t remember where I left the baby!

It is absolutely possible that she was in such a panic that she didn’t realize who he was until it was too late. I’m not saying it happened I’m simply saying it is possible.

 

[Shamrock1]

I wish that there was more awareness about the severity of postpartum depression. Sleep deprivation and hormonal imbalances can combine to make a new mother extremely hyper-vigilant. I have been there and I can tell you that it was similar to being in a dream-like state. ( not peaceful dreaming; fearful dreaming ) I truly felt like I couldn’t ever fall completely asleep because I had to be alert for the baby. I regularly awoke in a panic, having dreamt that I couldn’t remember where I left the baby! It is absolutely possible that she was in such a panic that she didn’t realize who he was.

I’m not saying it happened I’m simply saying it is possible.

I was thinking more along the lines of how sleep-deprivation can lead to a sort of psychotic state (esp when combined with stress of a sick spouse) but that’s a really good point about hyper-vigilance.

 

[Snoopster]

Such a sad case.

Just adding one pet peeve....the title of this thread and the news articles keep mentioning that he was a pastor. Why is that more important or different than a teacher? a social worker? a coach? Being a pastor doesn't elevate you above everyone else. This was a 29 year old man. A young man who lost his life too, too soon.

ETA: I have the same issue when they include 'grandmother' in a media headline for a 45 year old, implying that she was 'elderly'? or that she was more important than a 50 year old that isn't a grandmother yet? I get that they are trying to go for sympathy, but please let me know that society cares about every person.

ETA2: If this young man had been killed at his church, and potentially due to his role as pastor, then that would be a different story. I'd understand the use of the term 'pastor' in that case.

 

[al66pine]

Property Layout? Fear? Gun?

....Just a few days later, police said he was shot to death in his own yard.Gabriela Rose Shepherd: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com @al66pine - Here's the home. Google Maps Overhead - Google Maps

@Knox sbm Thank you VERY much for the birdseye & street view of home. Looks like a six foot wooden fence surrounds backyard & part of side yards. I wondered whether there was a pedestrian entry/gate into backyard from alley, an entry that either criminal intruder or husband might use. I don't see a gate but could be missing it. {ETA: May be a gate to left side of garage wall? In linked pic, kinda sorta behind the garbage cans?}

If wife saw unknown/unidentifiable person at back door & if there's is no ped. entry thru fence, it gives some credibility to her apprehension, even at 6:00 in daylight savings time. When living at a property w six foot fence & no gate into yard, who expects anyone to materialize at back door or yard?

Apprehension or trepidation? Okay.
Does wife have a phone in her hand, pocket, w'in arm's reach, in next room? IDK.
Did she make calls, to 911 or anyone else? IDK.
Did she think self defense or defense of others/two kids? Okay.
Weapon handy? What kind? Handgun? Where? In hand, pocket, arm's reach, next room? In a drawer, on a shelf? A gun safe/locked cabinet? Gun loaded? Ammo & gun stored separately? IDK.

If fearing for her/kids' lives, how much time did it take to retrieve gun? And ammo?

Not saying wife did anything criminal or even made any poor choices.
Just wondering about possibilities. my2ct

ETA: And as @LaborDayRN posted (TYVM), what about gunfire, then a short pause, then more shots?

 

[Knox]

Property Layout? Fear? Gun?
@Knox sbm Thank you VERY much for the birdseye & street view of home. Looks like a six foot wooden fence surrounds backyard & part of side yards. I wondered whether there was a pedestrian entry/gate into backyard from alley, an entry that either criminal intruder or husband might use. I don't see any but could be missing it.

If wife saw unknown/unidentifiable person at back door & if there's is no ped. entry thru fence, it gives some credibility to her apprehension, even at 6:00 in daylight savings time. When living at a property w six foot fence & no gate into yard, who expects anyone to materialize at back door or yard?

Apprehension or trepidation? Okay.
Does wife have a phone in her hand, pocket, w'in arm's reach, in next room? IDK.
Did she make calls, to 911 or anyone else? IDK.
Did she think self defense or defense of others/two kids? Okay.
Weapon handy? What kind? Handgun? Where? In hand, pocket, arm's reach, next room? In a drawer, on a shelf. A gun safe/locked cabinet? Gun loaded? Ammo & gun stored separately? IDK.

If fearing for her/kids' lives, how much time did it take to retrieve gun? And ammo?

Not saying wife did anything criminal or even made any poor choices.
Just wondering about possibilities. my2ct

Good questions al66pine. It looks like maybe there is a gate on the left side of the garage, hard to tell but the wood looks newer than the adjacent boards.

There just isn't enough information, other than she shot him because she thought he was an intruder. If the DA declined to charge, I would say there was other information which makes her explanation plausible. So for me, there's nothing more to discuss. Horrific, I just can't imagine how she felt when she learned it was Noah.

 

[al66pine]

Declining to Charge?

Good questions al66pine. It looks like maybe there is a gate on the left side of the garage, hard to tell but the wood looks newer than the adjacent boards.
There just isn't enough information, other than she shot him because she thought he was an intruder. If the DA declined to charge, I would say there was other information which makes her explanation plausible. So for me, there's nothing more to discuss. Horrific, I just can't imagine how she felt when she learned it was Noah.

@Knox Thanks for your reply, esp'ly about gate.
I edited my post.

Declining to charge? Not necessarily conclusive imo, as charges could be filed later.
Reading about these situations, I often think: what were all the circumstances' What would a reasonable person do? What would I do? Difficult to say here, because we have so little info.

Again, not saying wife did anything criminal or even made poor choices.

Regardless, it is horrible, awful, tragic and I cannot imagine how she felt.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Sad and tragic on so many levels.
I do not understand these cases one bit.

 

[meanmaryjean]

The part that is so hard for me about this case is it was broad daylight. I think charges ARE coming but cell and financial records need to be analyzed. MOO of course.

 

[Bridger]

Just adding one pet peeve....the title of this thread and the news articles keep mentioning that he was a pastor. Why is that more important or different than a teacher? a social worker? a coach? Being a pastor doesn't elevate you above everyone else. This was a 29 year old man. A young man who lost his life too, too soon.

ETA: I have the same issue when they include 'grandmother' in a media headline for a 45 year old, implying that she was 'elderly'? or that she was more important than a 50 year old that isn't a grandmother yet? I get that they are trying to go for sympathy, but please let me know that society cares about every person.

ETA2: If this young man had been killed at his church, and potentially due to his role as pastor, then that would be a different story. I'd understand the use of the term 'pastor' in that case.

I understand what you’re saying and certainly agree re the importance of all victims, but I’m begging everyone not to stop using these identifiers. I don’t read every thread and there are many threads that I start reading and decide to abandon due to lack of interest. The identifiers help me remember cases when I dip in and out, are are much more helpful for that purpose than simply names, locations and ages. The “pastor,” or “grandmother,” or “beauty queen” identifier immediately allows me to zero in on a case to catch up. And that’s not because beauty queens are more important than anyone else.

 

[meanmaryjean]

I understand what you’re saying and certainly agree re the importance of all victims, but I’m begging everyone not to stop using these identifiers. I don’t read every thread and there are many threads that I start reading and decide to abandon due to lack of interest. The identifiers help me remember cases when I dip in and out, are are much more helpful for that purpose than simply names, locations and ages. The “pastor,” or “grandmother,” or “beauty queen” identifier immediately allows me to zero in on a case to catch up. And that’s not because beauty queens are more important than anyone else.

DITTO

 

[LaborDayRN]

The part that is so hard for me about this case is it was broad daylight. I think charges ARE coming but cell and financial records need to be analyzed. MOO of course.

I agree.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Such a sad case.

Just adding one pet peeve....the title of this thread and the news articles keep mentioning that he was a pastor. Why is that more important or different than a teacher? a social worker? a coach? Being a pastor doesn't elevate you above everyone else. This was a 29 year old man. A young man who lost his life too, too soon.

ETA: I have the same issue when they include 'grandmother' in a media headline for a 45 year old, implying that she was 'elderly'? or that she was more important than a 50 year old that isn't a grandmother yet? I get that they are trying to go for sympathy, but please let me know that society cares about every person.

ETA2: If this young man had been killed at his church, and potentially due to his role as pastor, then that would be a different story. I'd understand the use of the term 'pastor' in that case.

I've seen these identifiers in all kinds of threads. I've seen teacher, random military rankings, doctor, nurse, mother of 4 etc. I think it partly has to do with the MSM article that the person who starts the thread is using. MSM usually includes such things in their title.
I don't find that these things cause people to think that this person is more or less important than another. I think it simply humanizes the crime victim for the reader. Here at WS, if they weren't used, all of our threads would start off with "Man Killed" or "Woman Killed". It sure would be difficult to keep them straight. JMO of course.

 

[al66pine]

Noah's Illness?
In reading other MSM stories, I saw he had been ill but some how did not catch that Noah Shepherd had been in hospital recently. Tho he said "nothing life threatening," I wonder, but probably not relevant.

"Noah Shepherd delivered his last sermon on Sunday, July 11, 2021. In it, he spoke about health issues that he had recently been experiencing, and said he had been in the hospital for treatment, according to CBS 8 San Diego. He said the illness led to a “difficult week” for himself and his wife, who he called Gaby.
“It’s been a very difficult week for Gaby and I. I’ve been very ill. Praise the lord not COVID – nothing like that. Praise the lord nothing life threatening either,” he told his congregants, according to the news outlet."

Gabriela Rose Shepherd: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com

 

[al66pine]

dbm, a duplicate