Nick Pasqual, the actor best known for his role on the television series How I Met Your Mother, is facing a civil lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend, Allie Shehorn, who alleges he sexually assaulted her just weeks before he was convicted of attempting to murder her. The 36-year-old actor was found guilty on May 8 in a California court of attempted murder, first-degree residential burglary with a person present, and injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend, or child's parent. He now faces a potential life sentence, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 2.
Details of the Alleged Assault
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Shehorn claims that Pasqual subjected her to 'controlling, coercive, threatening, and physically violent conduct' throughout their relationship. The lawsuit specifically alleges that in April 2024, while the two were still dating, Pasqual assaulted and raped her during an incident. Shehorn asserts that the abuse escalated over time, leading to the violent attack that nearly took her life.
The Stabbing Attack
The new lawsuit revisits the stabbing attack that led to Pasqual's conviction. Shehorn claims that Pasqual broke into her home in Sunland, California, in the early morning hours of May 2024 and stabbed her more than 20 times in the throat, chest, back, abdomen, arms, and wrists. The documents state that Pasqual intended to 'kill her.' Shehorn survived only after undergoing emergency surgery and intensive medical treatment, but she was left with permanent injuries, emotional trauma, and ongoing medical expenses.
Legal Claims and Damages Sought
In the newly filed lawsuit, Shehorn is suing Pasqual for sexual battery, gender violence, assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. She is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages. The civil case comes on the heels of Pasqual's criminal conviction, where he was found guilty of the attempted murder of Shehorn.
Background of the Case
Pasqual attempted to flee to Mexico after the attack but was apprehended on the Fort Hancock International Bridge in Sierra Blanca, Texas. He was later extradited back to California. At the time of the attempted murder, Shehorn had already obtained a restraining order against Pasqual. She alleged in 2024 that he had hit her with a belt on January 29, broken down several doors in their home on March 6, and raped and choked her on April 14. After they broke up, Pasqual broke into her home and stabbed her dozens of times.
Impact on the Victim
Shehorn's friend Christine White, who also lived in the same house, found her at the scene and acted quickly to save her life. A GoFundMe campaign set up to help with Shehorn's mounting medical bills noted that White 'acted fast when she found Allie bleeding out,' a move that 'saved her life.' In tearful testimony during the trial, Shehorn described the terrifying moments of the attack: 'I locked the door and he just started punching holes in that door and broke that open, and I just ran into the bathroom because I thought there's another lock on that door.'
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2024, Shehorn revealed that she almost died from the stab wounds and said that Pasqual 'can't get away with it.' She added, 'I just hope that there's justice served. People should know that this shouldn't happen and he can't get away with it.' The talented special effects makeup artist spent more than a week in the hospital and still bears vivid scarring to her throat. At the time, one of her hands was still in a cast, and she said she did not know whether it would recover enough for her to return to work. 'That's the goal,' she told the Daily Mail. 'I still don't have feeling back in my hands and partial vision loss that I can't get back.'
Pasqual's Background
Pasqual appeared on How I Met Your Mother, Archive 81, and was a producer on the comedy series National Day Riff. He has previous convictions, including a DUI in July 2013 and another in February 2014. Shehorn has worked as a makeup artist on films like Mean Girls and Rebel Moon.
