Angelica Marie James, a 38-year-old Black / African American mother, was fatally shot in the Newburg neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky, on February 27, 2022. The shooting also wounded her 10-year-old son, who sustained a gunshot injury to his hand during the incident.

The child’s father, Christopher Lee Gordon, abducted the couple’s two-year-old son from the scene, prompting an Amber Alert; the toddler was located safe several hours later. Gordon evaded capture for a period while a manhunt was underway before he was later taken into custody and charged in connection with the attack. Community members created a memorial of candles and balloons at the scene to mourn James.

Court filings and testimony presented during the case described a history of domestic violence between James and Gordon.