Lee Buchanan
editor@thefranklinpress.com
A Franklin woman shot and killed her ex-husband early Wednesday morning after he disconnected the home surveillance system and attacked a man sleeping there with a metal pipe.
Christopher Prince was shot in the head and died after being airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville.
After disabling the surveillance system, Prince used a knife to unlock the door of the bedroom occupied by his ex-wife and her companion, according to Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland.
Once in the room, Prince turned on a light and began beating the male victim with a metal pipe.
He then raised the pipe and moved toward his ex-wife, who shot him in the head with a small-caliber pistol, Holland said.
Detectives were able to review video that had recorded Prince moving around the outside of the residence on Tiger Lilly Trail.
The woman, who has not been identified, made two calls to 911 after the shooting. The woman told investigators that she and her daughter rendered aid to both men.
Prince and his former wife were divorced in October, Holland said.
The woman filed a domestic violence protection order against Prince on Monday in Macon County. The order had not yet been served at the time of the incident.
Prince had outstanding arrest warrants in Henderson County for first-degree burglary and identity theft, according to authorities.
The beating victim is hospitalized in critical condition.
“At this time we are still not identifying this person … to ensure all his family has received proper notification,” Holland said.
Holland said the woman is cooperating with investigators and that no charges have been filed.
“This investigation is still a very active investigation, and while we have released some preliminary findings, we remind you that these are preliminary findings,” he said. “We will not release any additional information until a thorough investigation has been conducted and is complete. District Attorney Ashley Welch has been briefed throughout the investigation and will be provided the complete case file upon conclusion. Following her review, she will make recommendations as to what possible criminal charges could be filed.”