William Schnittman, US Rower Who Feared for His Life, Killed by Girlfriends' Ex Boyfriend [PHOTO]
William "Bill" Schnittman, a 25-year-old aspiring Olympic rower, was killed on Friday by his girlfriend's ex boyfriend Darrell Wilson, just days after he was denied a protective order against him.
Oklahoma City police said Wilson shot Schnittman to death, abducted his 32-year-old girlfriend, sexually assaulted her and committed suicide.
The U.S. rowing community mourned the death of Schnittman in a statement.
"It's very difficult to adequately express our shock and sadness over the death of one of our own athletes," said USRowing Chief Executive Officer Glenn Merry. "This young man had a life ahead of him and Olympic dreams in his future. Our community lost a unique teammate. He was well liked and he will be missed."
"USRowing would like to send our heartfelt condolences to Bill's family and friends, as well as his coaches and teammates in Oklahoma City. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones in this time of tragedy."
According to the Daily Mail, police responded to a home invasion call in Oklahoma City on Dec. 21 at 3 am. Police found Schnittman at the house with two gunshot wounds to the head. He was later pronounced dead.
Upon officers' arrival, Wilson was keeping Schnittman's girlfriend captive in a car outside the house but released her and ensued in a high-speed car chase.
He reportedly lost control of the car and shot himself to death.
Schnittman's girlfriend told police that Wilson sexually assaulted her.
The murder-suicide has shocked many people because Schnittman sought a protective order against Wilson because he was being stalked, harassed and threatened, according to NewsOk.com.
As early as Dec. 4, the rower wrote in a protective order petition, that Wilson had threatened to kill him and then take his own life because of Schnittman's relationship with a woman.
"He again told me that his problems were my fault, that he was going to kill himself, and that his death was on my conscience," and that Wilson told him he would "take care of me" before he killed himself," reports NewsOk.com, citing court records.
But a judge denied his petition because he failed to submit paperwork. According to NewsOk.com, he failed to file a complaint to police about being stalked by Wilson.