A devastated father from Wyoming has shared the heart-wrenching final moments with his daughter, who called him begging for help just minutes before she was allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend in a suspected murder-suicide.
A Father's Final, Frantic Call
Macey Dawn Bradshaw, aged 20, was fatally shot on December 16 following a confrontation with her former partner, 22-year-old James Hunter, according to her grieving family. The tragedy unfolded in Lyman after Macey reportedly spotted Hunter lurking outside her apartment and called her father, Justin Bradshaw, in a panic.
Justin Bradshaw was driving to work when he received the desperate call. "She called at 11 o'clock and said, 'Dad, he's outside, and I need you to scare him away'," he recalled to local media. He immediately turned his vehicle around and raced to her home.
A Four-Minute Dash Ends in Gunfire
Despite arriving at the apartment within a mere four minutes, Justin was met with horror. "I reached down to open the door, and I heard the two gunshots go off, back-to-back. I actually heard his body fall to the floor," he said. Inside, he found both his daughter and Hunter lying on the floor with gunshot wounds to their heads.
He described finding Macey still conscious. "She was still alert, still awake, and she asked me to help her," Justin stated. "She said, 'Dad, I'm gonna be sick. I'm gonna throw up. I need to get on the floor.' She had a visible look of pain and agony on her face, but she was still there with me."
Police and first responders were called to the scene, but both young people later succumbed to their injuries. The Lyman Police Department confirmed an ongoing investigation but has not released detailed findings, including official confirmation of a murder-suicide.
A History of Fear and Alleged Abuse
Macey's family have since painted a picture of a long-term, abusive relationship. The pair had dated since high school, and relatives claim the alleged abuse began when Macey went to live with Hunter and his family. After eventually breaking up, Macey moved back to her hometown in June 2025, securing her own flat, a car, and a waitressing job.
However, the family alleges Hunter began stalking her in the months leading to her death. "She'd call me having a panic attack, because he would not stop texting her, he wouldn't stop blowing up her phone, he wouldn't stop coming around. James just wouldn't let go," her father said.
Disturbingly, Macey's sister, Taylor Bradshaw, revealed her sister's premonition. "About a month ago, Macey said to me, 'I wouldn't be surprised if James killed me, and then killed himself.' I never thought it would actually happen," Taylor said.
The family also claimed that first responders discovered duct tape and zip ties on Hunter's person, suggesting sinister intent beyond the shooting.
Legacy and Ongoing Investigation
In the wake of the tragedy, Macey Bradshaw's family have launched a nonprofit organisation named "A New Dawn" to provide mental health resources for young women in her honour.
The Lyman Police Department's investigation remains active, with many details yet to be disclosed. The Bradshaw family's account highlights the devastating consequences of domestic violence and stalking, leaving a community in mourning and a father grappling with an unimaginable loss.
