An Iowa woman has been charged with first-degree murder after authorities alleged she fatally shot a man while the two were target shooting on a remote property in Plymouth County, according to law enforcement and court records, as reported by The New York Post.
Ashley Ruhland, 35, of Sioux City, is accused of killing 49-year-old Justin Emmick at his approximately 30-acre property in rural Plymouth County. The land, according to authorities, is located in a wooded area that is accessible only by all-terrain vehicles.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office said Ruhland was arrested following the shooting and is being held without bond at the Plymouth County Jail while the investigation continues.
A woman is accused of convincing a man to go target shooting at a rural property before shooting him in the back, then calling 911 and claiming she acted in self-defense.
According to a criminal complaint and court records, 35-year-old Ashley Ruhland contacted authorities after… pic.twitter.com/ksUpeinqyW
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According to a criminal complaint obtained by KCAU, Ruhland had been temporarily staying on Emmick’s property before the shooting occurred. The complaint also states that Ruhland had previously obtained a protection order against Emmick, although officials have not disclosed additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding that order.
Investigators allege the shooting happened while Ruhland and Emmick were using a section of the property for target practice.
According to the complaint, Ruhland allegedly fired two shots at Emmick, striking him once in the back and once in the head.
After the shooting, Ruhland called 911 and reported what had happened. Authorities said she told responding officers that she had acted in self-defense.
According to investigators, Ruhland made several statements explaining why she believed she had no alternative.
The complaint states she told law enforcement words to the effect of:
“It was either him or me,” and “I didn’t want him to suffer.”
Investigators, however, said evidence collected at the scene did not support Ruhland’s claim that she faced an immediate threat at the time of the shooting.
“During the investigation, there was no evidence indicating [Ruhland] was in danger from [Emmick],” the complaint states, according to KTIV.
“The bullet wounds show [Emmick] was shot from behind while [Ruhland] was uninjured.”
Authorities said a deputy responding to the remote property located Emmick, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators have not publicly identified a motive beyond the statements included in the criminal complaint. Officials also have not released additional details regarding what occurred immediately before the shooting.
Court documents further allege that Ruhland had previously told family members she wanted to obtain a firearm for protection and that Emmick had planned to teach her how to use it.
Authorities have not clarified the nature of the relationship between Ruhland and Emmick, and court records reviewed in the case do not provide additional information regarding how long Ruhland had been staying at the property.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Prosecutors have charged Ruhland with first-degree murder, and the case is expected to proceed through the Iowa court system.
As with all criminal cases, the charge represents an allegation, and Ruhland is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Law enforcement officials have not announced when additional evidence or court filings related to the investigation may be released.
