According to a report published by People on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, a tragic event in Spring Valley, California, has left a 9-year-old boy without both of his parents.
During a video work call, Ashley Bird, a 35-year-old mother, was fatally shot by her estranged husband, Christopher Bird, 39, who was later found dead in his vehicle.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department stated that deputies responded to a call about a break-in at a residence in Spring Valley at around 10:24 a.m.
Upon entering the home, they found Ashley Bird with severe head trauma.
Despite immediate life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ashley Bird’s sister, Allison Saefong, told NBC 7 that her sister was on a Zoom call when she thought someone was trying to break in.
“She left [the call], and she said, ‘Hey, give me a second. Somebody is trying to break into my house,'” Saefong recalled.
When Ashley didn’t return to the Zoom meeting, a concerned co-worker contacted Ashley’s mother, who then reached out to the police.
Christopher Bird was later found dead in his vehicle at Calafia Beach Park in San Clemente by Orange County Sheriff’s deputies.
The cause and manner of his death will be determined by the Orange County Coroner’s Office.
“The Sheriff’s Homicide Unit is investigating and gathering more evidence,” according to the release.
“At this stage of the investigation, the motivation and circumstances of the crime are still under investigation. There are no outstanding suspects and no apparent danger to the community.”
Authorities said they are not seeking any other person of interest in this case, indicating that the investigation points to Christopher Bird as the sole perpetrator.
Ashley Bird’s tragic death has devastated her family and friends. Her sister, Allison Saefong, shared the moment she learned of Ashley’s death.
“My mom called me just before 11 o’clock, and she was hysterical, saying, ‘She’s gone. She’s gone,'” Saefong said.
“I shouted, ‘Who’s gone? Who’s gone?’ She wasn’t giving me details. She said, ‘Ashley. Ashley’s gone, I just know it.”
The outcome of this crime has left Ashley’s 9-year-old son without parents.
While the motive for the shooting is still under investigation, Allison Saefong said,
“We think the divorce may have sent him over the edge, and then along with the custody battle that was finalizing at the end too,” she told NBC 7.
In response to this tragedy, a GoFundMe page was set up to help support Ashley Bird’s 9-year-old son and cover funeral expenses.
The fundraiser described Ashley as a “warm-hearted, generous soul” and expressed gratitude for the life she lived and the lives she touched.
“We thank the Lord for the life she was able to live and all the lives she was able to touch in her short time on this earth,” the page reads.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is continuing its investigation into this tragic event, and they are asking for anyone with information about the incident to contact their homicide unit.
