A Michigan college student was shot and killed in what police believe was a murder-suicide. 

The family of Sarah Carroll, a 20-year-old college student, told Fox 2 Detroit that she was gunned down on August 30 in Westland, Michigan, by an ex-boyfriend who had been stalking her in the months leading up to her death. 

“She was with Lincoln, her ex-boyfriend, for almost a year and they were having trouble,” Jennifer Carroll told the news outlet of her daughter. “He was stalking her for the past two months. And he came here last night, shot her, called 911, said he killed his girlfriend, and then shot himself.”

According to Jennifer, her daughter had been trying to take out a restraining order against her ex at the time of her death.

Westland Police confirmed in a statement to that police received “multiple calls” about shots fired in the 7700 block of Drew Circle at approximately 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30 and arrived to find both a female and male dead from “apparent gunshot wounds.” Police declined to identify the deceased.

“Not a random incident”

“This was not a random incident as both subjects had a prior domestic relationship,” Westland Police said. “Initial investigations indicate this incident is a murder-suicide but further investigation is being conducted.” 

In the wake of the tragedy, Sarah’s family and friends gathered together Sunday at a vigil and balloon release in her honor.

“She was brilliant, amazing, when she smiled, she lit up a room,” Jennifer told WXYZ. “She was going to school, working two jobs, about to have a third.”

Sarah’s father, James Carroll, said that she was attending Schoolcraft College and studying to be a physician’s assistant.

Sarah Carroll “loved by everybody”

“She was loved by everybody. Everybody she met,” James told WDIV. “She was wonderful. I’m going to miss my baby.”

According to James, Sarah’s ex-boyfriend had been plagued by “mental illness” before the fatal shootings. 

“He was suffering from mental illness and we just want to get the message out that if anybody… if their children [are] suffering mental illness, get them some help, get them the help that they need before something like this happens,” James told WXYZ. 

Sarah’s parents added in their comments to WDIV that they were unaware that their daughter was having relationship problems and didn’t know that she’d been trying to take out a restraining order before her death. 

“To other parents — watch your kids,” Jennifer said. “Try to get more into their life, try to get them to be open and talk to you.”

Police said that the investigation remains ongoing and that they’re unable to give a timetable of when it may be complete.