Latest news with #WilliamKistler
Fox News
18-05-2025
- Fox News
Companion of Texas real estate agent killed in Mercedes dispute has lengthy criminal record
William Kistler, the mysterious 26-year-old companion of the Texas real estate agent who was fatally shot after the pair allegedly brushed against a parked Mercedes, has a lengthy criminal record. According to FOX 4 Dallas, 28-year-old Ashlee Long was leaving a bar in downtown Dallas on April 5 with a group of friends, including Kistler. Dallas police said that Kistler "reached out and brushed his hand along the passenger side of a passing Mercedes as they were walking across the street." Investigators said that 34-year-old Kendrick Finch then exited the passenger side of the vehicle with a gun and opened fire. The affidavit states, according to FOX 4, that Kistler reached into Long's purse and pulled out his gun, and that's when police say Finch opened fire, striking both Long and Kistler. Kistler was able to fire back, but Finch then took off. Finch shot both Long and Kistler, according to police. Long later died from her injuries at the hospital, while Kistler survived. Finch, who has a prior criminal history that includes drug charges and burglary, later turned himself in to authorities. He is currently charged with murder. Kistler was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, a felony. He is being held in the Collin County Jail. On March 7, prosecutors said that Finch fired "at least 8 times." "From the evidence that I see, it is our firm belief that Mr. Finch was the first one to shoot. That he has to own. He fired that gun at least eight times. In a crowded residential-commercial street with cars and people walking all around." Finch's attorney, Dallas County defense lawyer Josh Healy, said in court that the shooting was an act of self-defense and that Kistler "started everything that night." "We know for sure Ashlee Long would be alive today except for William Kistler. William Kistler is the one who started everything that night. It showed in the video. It shows his actions, how he was acting. We don't have the toxicology report yet of these two individuals, but I can bet where that's going to end up. He's trying to fight random people on the street, and then my client's car, driving by at a normal rate of speed, gets hit," Healy said. Healy also emphasized the seven seconds it took his client to exit the vehicle. "He goes over how, during those seven seconds, he says Kistler is trying to get a gun out of Long's purse." "What I do know is my client never gets out of that car except [that] Mr. Kistler is reaching for that gun immediately . . . but if you watch that video, Mr. Kistler, when he's fighting around trying to get that gun and gets it, goes like this towards my client." At that moment, Healy lunged forward in court, acting out what he claimed was visible in the video. "And when he takes those steps towards my client, my client has every right under the law to defend himself," he said. Finch was released on May 13 after posting a $500,000 bond. His release came after a judge denied a motion from his defense team to reduce the bond amount. Long's companion's lengthy criminal history, primarily misdemeanors, was brought to light after he was charged. In April 2018, he was charged with theft of services valued between $750 and $2,500, a case that was ultimately resolved in County Court. Later that year, in November 2018, he was charged with assault causing bodily injury to a family member, another misdemeanor. In March 2019, Kistler was charged with violating a protective order or bond conditions in a domestic violence case, which was also resolved without a felony conviction. In July 2023, he faced another theft charge involving property valued between $750 and $2,500, again concluding with a misdemeanor disposition. In addition to these closed misdemeanors, Kistler is involved in two ongoing legal proceedings. In May 2019, he was indicted by a grand jury for burglary of a habitation—a felony. After a period of inactivity, the case was reactivated and remains pending. In July 2022, Kistler was charged in connection with a vehicle accident that caused at least $200 in damage. That case has also been reopened. Fox News Digital reached out to Kistler's attorney for comment. Henry Long, the father of the victim, released a statement mourning the death of his daughter and calling for Finch to stay in jail. "Ashlee's life mattered. And so does justice," Long wrote on Facebook. "Kendrick Finch must remain behind bars — permanently. "He made the choice to kill. He should not be given the opportunity to walk free and make that choice again." Long said the pain of losing a child is "indescribable." "But to lose her this way — to gun violence at the hands of a stranger — is a trauma no family should have to endure," he wrote. "Kendrick Finch made the choice to take her life. He didn't just end her future — he shattered the lives of everyone who loved her."
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Family gasps as they're forced to listen to glamorous realtor's final moments
The family of murdered realtor Ashlee Long gasped loudly with raw emotion as they saw images of her being shot and her lifeless body falling to the street shown during a court hearing Wednesday where her alleged shooter asked for a lower bond. A local judge ultimately denied accused killer Kendrick Finch, 34, and his request to lower his $500,000 bond in the April 5 killing. Both her family and Finch's relatives packed the courthouse for the hearing in Dallas earlier this week. Long, 28, a glamorous and successful realtor from the Houston area and bride-to-be, had traveled to Dallas last month for a work conference, according to media reports. The relator's relatives wore matching shirts bearing her name and a special message, reported local station WFAA. Family members who could not contain their emotion were advised to leave before the dramatic images of her final moments were shown publicly for the first time. While out on the town with a man in downtown Dallas around 2:30 a.m., her male companion, later identified as William Kistler, touched a white Mercedes as it drove by on the street, prompting the luxury sedan to come to a stop on the street. Footage of the April 5 incident shows Kistler, 36, reaching for Long's purse which had his gun in it, according to a Dallas police homicide detective who testified in the bond hearing. Dallas police have charged Kendrick Finch, 34, in her death. Video of the shooting shows Finch stepping out of Mercedes in downtown Dallas with a gun and firing at Ashlee Long Finch emerged from the car, visibly upset and holding a 9 mm handgun, stills from the video shown in court demonstrated. Kistler struggled with Long, as she tried to hold him back, but he eventually retrieved a 40 caliber pistol from her bag. At that point, Finch started shooting at the pair on a busy street filled with shops, restaurants and apartment buildings, striking Long in the process. Kistler, who was able to fire three shots from his weapon, was also hit and was taken to the hospital while Finch fled. Finch called police hours later, according to local station Fox 4, and identified himself as the shooter. However, it wasn't until April 18 when he turned himself over to investigators. His previous criminal records include drug and burglary charges, the TV station reported. Despite Finch fleeing from the crime scene, his lawyer claims Kistler is to blame for the shooting. 'We know for sure Ashlee Long would be alive today except for William Kistler. William Kistler is the one who started everything that night it showed in the video,' her attorney stated in court. Ashlee graduated in 2019 from the University of Houston with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration Finch was only defending himself, his lawyer added. 'When (Kistler) takes those steps towards my client, my client has every right under the law to defend himself.' Kistler did not immediately respond to request for comment. It's unclear how Long and Kistler knew each other, as he is a resident of Celina, a Dallas suburb. His former employer, a custom truck company, shared that they had 'cut all ties' with him after he left the company a few years ago. He does not appear to be involved in the realty business. Kistler is also not the man Long was engaged to. Her online obituary listed her high school sweetheart, Jacob Underwood, as her fiancé.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Glamorous realtor's life snuffed out in clash over Mercedes Benz that was all caught on camera
A glamorous Texas realtor had her life snuffed out during a tense clash that all started with the innocent brush of a Mercedes Benz. Ashlee Long, 28, was shot dead on April 5 while visiting Dallas for a work conference. While out on the town with a friend in downtown Dallas around 2:30 a.m., her friend touched a white Mercedes as it drove by on the street, prompting the luxury sedan to come to a stop on the street. The driver, Kendrick Finch, emerged with a 9mm handgun. Footage of the incident shows Long's friend, William Kistler, 36, reaching for Long's purse which had his gun in it. Kistler struggled with Long, as she tried to hold him back. He eventually retrieved a 40 caliber pistol from her bag. Finch then started shooting at the pair on the busy street filled with shops, restaurants and apartment buildings, shooting Long in the process. Kistler, who was able to fire three shots from his weapon, was also hit and taken to the hospital while Finch fled. Finch called police hours later, according to location station Fox 4, and identified himself as the shooter, however, it wasn't until April 18 when he turned himself over to investigators. His previous criminal records include drug and burglary charges, the TV station reported. Despite Finch fleeing from the crime scene, his lawyer claims the person who is to blame for the shooting is Kistler. 'We know for sure Ashlee Long would be alive today except for William Kistler. William Kisseler is the one who started everything that night. It showed in the video,' her attorney stated in court. While out on the town with a friend April 5 around 2:30 a.m., Long's friend touched a white Mercedes as it drove by on the street, prompting the luxury sedan to come to a stop on the street. The friend was later identified as William Kistler, 36 'We don't have the toxicology report yet of these two individuals, but I can bet where that's going to end up. 'He's trying to fight random people on the street and then my client's car. Driving by at a normal rate of speed gets hit.' Finch was only defending himself, his lawyer added. 'When (Kistler) takes those steps towards my client, my client has every right under the law to defend himself.' Long's family declined to speak to the media after the court hearing Wednesday, but had previously told local reporters their daughter was in the wrong place at the wrong time. 'I'm still in a fog. I just feel like I'm in a daze every day,' Michelle Long, Ashlee's mother told the outlet in April.
