Woman, 23, shot and killed ex-boyfriend after a period of abuse that included him once breaking her jaw, lawyer says
A college student in Ohio is facing charges of first-degree murder after she gunned down her ex-boyfriend during what her attorney describes as a frantic domestic abuse incident.
Claire Touvell, 23, a student at the Columbus State Community College in Ohio, was arrested in Worthington, a suburb of the Buckeye State capital on Monday after police responded to reports of a shooting in a parking lot. There, responding officers found 22-year-old Stephen Horton mortally wounded, according to an arrest affidavit seen by The Independent.
Touvell's lawyer Daniel Sabol said that his client was the person who called 911 and added that she attempted to administer CPR to her former lover before cops arrived on the scene.
He was pronounced dead in the lot while officers recovered a Ruger handgun from the grisly scene.
Sabol told The Independent that Touvell was acting in self-defense. 'Claire is alive today because she had the courage to defend herself,' he told The Independent.
'For too long she has been a victim of Stephen Horton's abuse — including him breaking her jaw, choking her, and smashing her phone when she tried to call 911 for help,' he continued.
A previous dispute involving Touvell and Horton is cataloged online.
In 2023, the pair were embroiled in a housing battle with a property management service in Ohio, as records show they were summoned for an eviction hearing that led to bailiff action.
While at the time of his death, Horton was waiting to be tried for two criminal charges following an arrest in December for aggravated menacing, and domestic violence – crimes Sabol says were connected to Touvell.
He was fined just two months before his death, for criminal trespassing, according to court records.
'He has gone to jail multiple times for his crimes against Claire. Horton was recorded telling Claire she'd have to 'look over her shoulder scared for the rest of her life' if she would not submit to his demands,' Sabol went on.
The attorney added that Horton's charges had been subject to an order from a criminal judge telling him to stay away from the suspect.
Speaking about Monday's shooting, he said: 'Horton chose to violate those judicial orders and stalked Claire to a residence she believed was safe and he was not aware of.'
'There he lay in wait, and once Claire walked to her car to go to work, he ambushed her – blocking access to her car and attempting to kidnap her.'
'Claire had no choice but to defend herself, and immediately called 911 and used CPR on her assailant.
'She defended herself because she had to, and Horton died because of his own actions.'
According to jail records, Touvell was being held on $25,000 bond at the Franklin County jail and is scheduled to appear in court on Valentine's Day.
Despite the allegations being made against Horton, whose mother died in October 2022, he is being mourned extensively on social media by friends who refer to him by his nickname, Cowboy.
'My cowboy I can't say much cause my head been everywhere but on earth I'm crying making this right now I can't even think straight knowing I won't hear or see you no more,' one friend wrote.
'Stephen Horton, I'll never get over loosing you, the best part of us,' said another.
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