On a cold evening in Madison, Wisconsin, the life of Caroline E. Nosal, a 24-year-old Caucasian female, was brought to a tragic and violent end. On February 2, 2016, as she left her job as an assistant produce manager at the Metro Market on Cottage Grove Road, she was ambushed in the parking lot. Her attacker, a former co-worker named Christopher O'Kroley, 26, was waiting for her. He shot her multiple times, once in the chest and once in the head, before fleeing the scene.
Nosal was found in the parking lot and rushed to a local hospital, but she ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
The events leading to the fatal encounter began with workplace harassment. Nosal had reported O'Kroley to their managers for harassment after he developed an unwanted romantic obsession with her. Although they had been in what was described as "somewhat of a relationship," O'Kroley wanted more, and Nosal did not reciprocate his feelings. Two weeks prior to the shooting, she formally complained to store management, which led to O'Kroley's suspension. He was officially fired by phone on February 1, the day before the murder. Enraged and blaming Nosal for his termination, O'Kroley immediately and legally purchased a 9mm pistol and ammunition. He then began texting other co-workers under the guise of wanting to retrieve his belongings, in order to learn Nosal's work schedule for the following day.
After being fired, O'Kroley had a clear plan. He initially went to the Metro Market parking lot on February 1 with the intent to kill her then, but left because he had never fired the gun before and wanted to practice. The next evening, he returned and lay in wait. Just after her shift ended around 8 p.m., he confronted her as she walked to her vehicle. After shooting her, O'Kroley sent a text message to another co-worker stating, "I killed Caroline and I'm about to kill myself. So don't be surprised when I don't respond anymore." He did not attempt suicide.
A manhunt for Christopher O'Kroley ensued, and he was located and arrested the following day after a shootout with a Madison police officer. He later confessed to the killing, telling investigators that it was "easy" to kill Nosal and that he did it out of anger because she had "ruined my life." He was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety. O'Kroley eventually pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to life in prison. On May 1, 2017, he was found dead in his cell at the Waupun Correctional Institution, having died by suicide.
