The sister of a Massachusetts woman who was allegedly fatally shot in the face by her US Air Force veteran has called on the ‘coward’ suspect to turn himself in amid an urgent manhunt.
Aaron Pennington, 33, allegedly shot his wife, Breanne Pennington, 30, in their home on Sunday morning before fleeing in a white BMW sedan that was later found in the woods. The couple’s children ran to a neighbor’s house to warn others about the murder.
Pennington spent eight years in the U.S. Air Force as a “special mission aircraft maintainer” and now works at Raytheon Missiles & Defense, where he also has an “active classified clearance,” according to his LinkedIn profile.
As police continue the hunt for the suspect, Breanne’s heartbroken family shared their shock at the loss of the “loving, caring, compassionate” mother of four.
‘We are all in shock about this. We are all in shock. We had no idea something like this would ever happen,” said Brooke Pertile, Breanne’s sister Boston25.
‘He better turn himself in. He needs to stand up for what he did and turn himself in. And don’t be a coward. He must turn himself in. He has to do it for the children.’
Aaron Pennington, 33, remains at large after allegedly fatally shooting his wife Breanne in the face Sunday morning
Breanne (right) was described as a ‘loving, caring, compassionate’ mother of four, as her family urged her ‘coward’ husband to turn himself in
Court filings revealed that Breanne planned to take their four children to Texas, away from Aaron, who was reportedly suffering from mental health issues and suicide threats.
The tragic scene at their family home in Gardner, Massachusetts, was discovered after the couple’s four children, ages two, five, seven and nine, ran to a neighbor’s house around 9:14 a.m. on Sunday.
Pertile said her sister lived for their children and was a “very loving, caring, compassionate woman” who “always saw the best in everything and in people.”
“She absolutely lit up the room like no other, every room she walked into,” she added.
A criminal complaint revealed that the Penningtons’ marriage was problematic because Breanne planned to take their children to Texas and away from Aaron.
The complaint also alleges that Aaron suffered from mental illness and had threatened to kill himself.
‘From the outside he was a very nice person. But he struggles with a number of mental health issues. It just got worse,” said Breanne’s sister, who said she spoke to her three days before the shooting.
The couple’s children who ran for help are now reportedly in state care.
Pennington is described as white and 6 feet tall, with blond hair and blue eyes. He is considered armed and dangerous, and police have told people not to approach him.
Breanne’s sister said she ‘lighted up the room’ as Aaron ‘struggled with mental health issues’ that were ‘getting worse’
The couple’s home in Gardner, Massachusetts, where police found 30-year-old Breanne Pennington dead in an upstairs bedroom
The 33-year-old veteran’s BMW was found abandoned in a wooded area near the town of Gardner
An officer reported that the children “came to the neighbor’s house scared because they couldn’t find their father and their mother was crying in her bedroom.”
When police entered the house, they found Breanne in an upstairs bedroom with a gunshot wound to the face, and Aaron’s car was gone from the driveway.
The complaint alleges that Pennington possesses an illegally possessed firearm without a permit to carry it, and although three shell casings were found in the bedroom, no firearms were found in the home.
Breanne was also known to have a gun in her home for protection, police said.
Surveillance footage showed the 33-year-old fleeing in a white BMW sedan at 8:50 a.m. on Sunday. The car was later found abandoned in a wooded area near Gardner.
Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson said that while the city has received numerous requests to hold a vigil for Breanne, he asked for a postponement “due to the fact that the investigation is still ongoing and because the suspect remains at large.”
In a 2016 Facebook post, the father praised Breanne as the “hardest working mother and wife alive.”
Aaron is described as white and 6 feet tall, with blond hair and blue eyes. He is considered armed and dangerous, and police have told people not to approach him
In a 2016 Facebook post, the American veteran thanked his wife for everything she did for the family.
“You have the most selfless outlook and are so dedicated to making us happy,” he wrote. We appreciate you as the hardest working mother and wife there is. You’re truly amazing!’
He praised her for “always being patient” and being a good example for their children.
After news of her death emerged, social media was flooded with posts commemorating Breanne’s life, with several women saying they knew her from an online group because she was pregnant.
“Imagine my shock when I was scrolling and said to myself, ‘That looks like Breezy’s husband, what happened?’ just to find out he killed her and ran away,” one woman wrote.
“I am absolutely SICK about this and thinking of her four precious babies. Breezy Pennington was an amazing mother, a hilarious friend and a truly sweet soul.”
“I’m hurt, sad, frustrated, angry and most of all confused as to why anyone should take someone else’s life because they are unhappy,” another friend wrote.
“We all want justice for you and want nothing but the best for your four beautiful children that we all know you loved so much.”