Lori McConnell, a 53-year-old woman from Waterloo, New York, tragically lost her life on July 10, 2018, in a violent shooting. This harrowing event was the culmination of a period of fear and abuse she had endured from her ex-boyfriend, Emerson 'John' Tohafjian. In the time leading up to her death, Lori had expressed grave concerns for her safety, even telling her daughter that she feared he would kill her.
She had sought legal protection, but her request for a restraining order was denied.
On that fateful July evening, Tohafjian carried out his threats, opening fire at a residence on Virginia Street in Waterloo. The attack resulted in the deaths of Lori McConnell and another individual, Charlie Andrus. A third person was also injured in the shooting. Following the violent outburst, Tohafjian fled the scene but was later taken into custody.
The investigation into the shooting revealed Tohafjian's extensive criminal history, which included a recent arrest for rape. In the months prior to the murders, he had been arrested twice for domestic violence incidents involving Lori, but was released on bail both times. Tohafjian was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder and other related offenses.
In February 2019, Emerson Tohafjian was convicted on all 18 counts against him, including the murders of Lori McConnell and Charlie Andrus. During the sentencing, Lori's children delivered emotional victim impact statements, describing their mother as a loving and caring person. They pleaded with the judge to ensure Tohafjian would never be free to harm anyone again. The judge handed down the maximum sentence: life in prison without the possibility of parole. Though the defense planned to appeal, the sentence brought a sense of justice to the families of the victims.
