Tragic Loss: Cherished Volleyball Coach Killed in Heartbreaking Burglary Incident

In a tragic incident early Monday morning, a volleyball coach from Ohio lost her life during what appears to be a home invasion.

Ashley Flynn, aged 37, was fatally shot during a burglary that took a deadly turn in Tipp City, located just north of Dayton, as per the local police reports.

Authorities were alerted around 2:30 a.m. to a robbery at Flynn’s home and a shooting incident inside the premises.

Upon reaching the scene, officers discovered Flynn unresponsive with a gunshot wound, and she was declared dead shortly thereafter.

Flynn’s husband and their two children were present in the house at the time but fortunately remained unharmed.

Tipp City Police Chief Greg Adkins told WHIO that there were signs of forced entry. 

After police arrived at the Flynn residence, they quickly secured the home and established a perimeter. 

Police dogs and a drone were deployed to search for the burglar, but no suspect was immediately identified. 

Ashley Flynn, 37, was shot dead during an apparent home invasion in the early hours of Monday. She is pictured with her husband, who was in the home at the time and unharmed

Shortly after police arrived at the Flynn residence, family members were called to help take care of her husband and their two children. The couple is pictured

Flynn was a beloved member of her community and the school where she worked as a volleyball coach. This tribute to her was posted by the Tipp City school district 

The Tipp City Police Department said that investigators, crime scene technicians and agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are examining evidence. 

The investigation is still in its early stages, the police department added. 

Shortly after police arrived, family members were called to the home to help care for the children and Flynn’s husband. The Miami County Victim Witness Program was also called to the scene to provide support. 

Flynn was a beloved staff member at Tippecanoe Middle School, where she was a volleyball coach and a substitute teacher. She was also a former full-time teacher in the school district.

One of the deceased mother’s most recent Facebook posts, which was shared in October, included pictures of the seventh-grade girl’s volleyball team she coached along with a caption that said ‘Love them so much!’ 

Several parents commented on the post, expressing their gratitude for Flynn’s work and the strong relationship she had with the team.

‘They were soo fun to watch tonight!! You are a great coach and the girls are lucky to have you,’ one of the parents wrote. 

On Monday, Tipp City Schools posted a tribute to Flynn on Facebook. 

Flynn’s husband and their two children were in the home at the time of the burglary, but none of them were harmed. The family is pictured together during Christmas in 2023

Flynn worked as a volleyball coach and substitute teacher at Tippecanoe Middle School, and she was a former full-time teacher in the school district. The middle school is pictured

The school district described the late coach as being ‘known for her beautiful smile, warmth, kindness, and the positive impact she had on so many—both in and out of the classroom and on the court.’

Tipp City Schools offered its condolences to Flynn’s family, friends, colleagues and her students. 

Flynn was also a teacher at Lifewise Academy, a religious instruction program, which posted a tribute to her on Facebook that said: ‘We are heartbroken by the passing of our teacher, Ashley Flynn. We know God is close.’

Lifewise Academy scheduled a prayer gathering for members of the community on Monday.

The deceased mother was a church member at Christian Life Center in Dayton. The pastor, Jordan Hansen, also shared a tribute to her. 

He described Flynn as ‘a beloved member of our church, devoted servant of Jesus, and wife, mom, daughter… and so many other roles she fulfilled with grace, devotion, and unconditional love.’ 

The pastor also said that Flynn ‘was murdered in her home’ and asked members of the community to pray for her husband and two children, as well as the ongoing investigation.