A young girl was reportedly killed in a murder-suicide two days before her 18th birthday by her “violent” ex-boyfriend after he served a no-contact order.
Serenity Hawley, 17, of Blacksburg, Virginia, was shot in a suspected murder-suicide just days before she would have turned 18.
The high school student had applied for a no-contact order with her former boyfriend Croney Monk two weeks earlier because her ex had allegedly harassed and blackmailed her.
Monk allegedly shot Hawley in the chest on Tuesday before turning the gun on himself, the teen’s family told 10 News.
Their heartbreaking deaths were discovered when the bodies of both teenagers were found in Hawley’s car in a parking lot, the Roanoke Times reported.
Serenity Hawley, 17, of Blacksburg, Virginia, was shot in a suspected murder-suicide just days before she would have turned 18
The high school student had applied for a no-contact order with her former boyfriend Croney Monk (pictured) two weeks earlier because her ex had allegedly harassed and blackmailed her
Serenity’s father claimed his family – including his daughter’s four brothers and sisters – were “heartbroken” over the tragic incident, saying: “I couldn’t have asked for a better child” (Pictured: A memorial for Serenity)
Blacksburg police said their officers responded to a report of a suspicious car in a parking lot on University City Boulevard — where they found the dead teens.
Serenity’s father John Hawley, 49, identified his daughter as one of the teenagers who died.
He said his daughter had just been accepted to Virginia Tech – a university in her hometown of Blacksburg – which she was “so excited” to attend.
Hawley was found sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Her ex-boyfriend – a football player at Blacksburg High School – allegedly got into the vehicle and shot her before shooting himself.
Serenity’s father claimed his family – including his daughter’s four brothers and sisters – were “heartbroken” over the tragic incident, saying: “I couldn’t have asked for a better child.”
The 17-year-old was intimidated by her ex-boyfriend – according to her father, who said she kept Monk’s harassment a secret from her family.
Her father said, “She’s had a whole rainbow of experiences.” We didn’t know that. She didn’t tell us that.
“But we found out today that he was walking in front of her in the hallways, making his presence known and just doing different things.”
“He was constantly on social media. He blackmailed her and told her he would show this and that. “These aren’t the things kids need to do.”
Hawley was found sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Her ex-boyfriend – a football player at Blacksburg High School – allegedly got into the vehicle and shot her before shooting himself
Serenity’s father said his daughter had just been accepted to Virginia Tech – a university in her hometown of Blacksburg – which she was “so excited” to attend
The family said they will use some of the Gofundme money to organize her funeral and plan to set up a scholarship in Serenity’s memory
Hawley’s mother Heather Waldron (pictured) said her daughter’s death was the ‘nightmare you can’t wake up from’
The 17-year-old was intimidated by her ex-boyfriend – according to her father, who said she kept Monk’s harassment a secret from her family
Hawley’s stepmother – Katherine Hawley – claims that there are “a lot of things that we found out after the fact that we wish we had known.”
“Violence in any form, especially domestic violence, is serious,” the stepmother said.
Hawley’s mother, Heather Waldron, said her daughter’s death was the “nightmare you can’t wake up from.”
The Montgomery County Public Schools District released a statement saying, “Our thoughts are first and foremost with the families and loved ones of the two children who lost their lives.”
“We are deeply saddened by this loss and are trying our best as a community to deal with the devastating impact.”
A Gofundme was organized by the Hawley family – which has now raised $21,495.
The family said they will use some of the money to organize her funeral and plan to set up a scholarship in Serenity’s memory.