On July 17, 2008, Christine Rose Nguyen, 48, was fatally shot outside her New Brighton, Minnesota townhouse while protecting her 17-year-old daughter, Anne. The daughter’s ex-boyfriend, 21-year-old Corey Lee Gaustad, confronted them as they returned home; Christine stepped between him and her daughter, allowing Anne to get into the back seat of the family car. Gaustad forced Christine against the vehicle and shot her in the abdomen, then fired at Anne as she fled. Christine was taken to hospital and died a few hours later.

The day before the attack the family had reported escalating threats to police and been advised to seek a restraining order. Gaustad was located and arrested the next day in Rochester. Investigators say he had planned a wider attack targeting Anne’s friends and relatives; he was originally charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder and a grand jury later returned first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder charges.

Christine’s death is described as a deliberate, protective act that allowed her daughter to escape. If anyone knew Christine, Anne, or has information about threats made before July 17, 2008, please share what is known.