close
close

Iowa mother killed while stripping her daughter; Man arrested

An Iowa mother who was fatally shot was helping her daughter move out of a home when the daughter's ex-boyfriend allegedly opened fire. Authorities say there was a domestic dispute between the former couple.

The suspected shooter was identified as 24-year-old Hamza Smajlovic, is also accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend's father in the house, authorities said. The father was in critical condition at a hospital on Thursday

The double shooting occurred at a home in Des Moines and claimed the life of Ruth Sue Ann Robison, the Polk County Sheriff's Office reported.

According to investigators, officers responded to a home around 5:20 p.m. on November 1 to report a disturbance.

At the scene, officers found Robison, 45, and her 52-year-old husband suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and determined that the shooting resulted from a domestic incident between the suspect and his ex-girlfriend.

Both were transported to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries, where Robison died.

Her husband, who was listed in critical condition Monday, was still alive Thursday, sheriff's office Capt. Ryan Evans confirmed to USA TODAY.

A political talk and a three-person shooting: 3 women shot after discussing politics in Miami; no arrest was made

Affidavit: Both parents were shot in the head with a 9mm pistol

Officials said Smajlovic's ex-girlfriend had recently ended their relationship, was in the process of moving out of his house, and Robison and her husband had been helping their daughter move.

According to a criminal complaint, Smajlovic shot Robison once in the head with a 9mm handgun. Officers also wrote in the documents that the suspect shot her husband in the head and fired a bullet into the house.

Officers took Smajlovic, of West Des Moines, into custody at the scene and later arrested him on charges including first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Smajlovic was an ex-boyfriend of the victim's daughter

On Thursday, Evans said there had been no further calls for care at the home where the couple lived in the past six months.

Online records show the suspect was being held without bail Thursday in the Polk County Jail on charges of murder, attempted murder and intimidation with a dangerous weapon.

As of Thursday, Smajlovic had no court date listed online and it was not immediately known whether he had retained an attorney.

After the shootings, the court issued a no-contact order against him for his ex-girlfriend.

Killer released in Florida: Woman who pleaded guilty to 'clown' murder in 1990 released from prison

Fundraiser to support funeral and medical costs

At the time of her death, Robison was living in Urbandale with her husband. The town is about 9 miles southwest of where the shooting occurred.

An online fundraiser to help the family with funeral and medical costs had raised nearly $16,000 as of Thursday.

“We are all devastated by the loss of Ruth Robison and the hospitalization of (her husband),” LeAnna Hoffman wrote on the page she created. “We want to help her family give Ruth the memorial she deserves to honor her memory. In addition, we would like to help with the hospital costs for her husband as well as the family's daily living expenses while they are alive.” Cope with this difficult time.

USA TODAY has reached out to Hoffman.

On Thursday, Evans said no further details would be released about the case, which remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the sheriff's office at 515-286-3333.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund

You may also like...