A Michigan family is mourning the loss of a young woman who died in what police are calling a murder-suicide. Sarah Carroll was allegedly shot and killed by an ex-boyfriend who then turned the gun on himself. It seems that even though the pair had broken up, the ex-boyfriend was still trying to retain contact with her. Ultimately, his need to maintain contact led to Carroll losing her life. Now, her family is trying to honor her in the best way they can.
Authorities from the City of Westland Police Department responded to a call about a shooting on August 30, 2025, they confirmed in a statement to People. According to authorities, the man, who was not identified, called 911, telling them he shot his ex-girlfriend. He then shot himself before they arrived. The two were found in the parking lot of Carroll’s apartment building.
The young woman was identified by her parents as 20-year-old Sarah Carroll to multiple news outlets after her death. Her mother, Jennifer Carroll, spoke with Fox 2 about her daughter’s death, saying she was in the process of getting a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend.
“She was with Lincoln, her ex-boyfriend, for almost a year and they were having trouble,” her mother told the news outlet. “He was stalking her for the past two months. And he came here last night, shot her, called 911, said he killed his girlfriend, and then shot himself.”
Local 4 reported that Westland Police have yet to release any details about what may have led to the shooting. Jennifer Carroll told them she didn’t immediately know about the restraining order.
“To other parents – watch your kids,” Carroll warned. “Try to get more into their life, try to get them to be open and talk to you.”
A day after her death, friends and family came together for a balloon release in the parking lot where Sarah Carroll was killed. “She was loved by everybody. Everybody she met,” her father James Carroll shared, per Local 4. “She was wonderful. I’m going to miss my baby.”
According to the father, the young woman was studying to be a physician’s assistant. “She was alive, she was funny, she was smart, she had everything going for her,” her mother added.
Those close to the family started a GoFundMe account to help with funeral costs, and it’s raised more than $20,000 thus far.
“Sarah was so full of life — smart, brave, strong, and with a smile that lit up every room she entered,” the fundraiser page reads. “She was only just beginning her journey, and losing her at such a young age is something no family should ever have to go through.”
If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic abuse, you can find help and support at DVIS.org, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or by contacting your local women’s shelter (domesticshelters.org).
