Family, friends in shock over couple's death

July 6, 2009 04:17 PM EDT

Greenwood - Eyewitness News is learning more about the events leading up to the shooting death of a Greenwood teenager. Police say a 21-year-old Ian York shot and killed his 19-year-old fiancee Kelly Roome over the weekend. It happened in Marysville, California, where the two shared an apartment. Police later shot and killed York in Santa Clara.

Some of Kelly Roome's friends say what happened Saturday wasn't the first sign of trouble.

"Everybody loved her because she was just fun," said BreAnn Archer, friend.

Her contagious smile is what friends remember about Kelly Roome. She was a fun-loving, strong-willed 19-year-old who loved her family and her fiance Ian York.

"That was her guy, Ian was," said Archer.

So it is with unparalleled sadness and confusion that her young friends now try to understand the violence that claimed her life. Police say Saturday night the couple had an argument in an apartment they shared in California, where York was stationed with the Air Force.

York opened fire, hitting Roome in the chest. She died at the hospital. York was killed in an apparent shootout with police Sunday.

"She was always, to me, invincible which is why I can't believe it," said Chrissa Freese, friend.

Friends of the recent graduate of Greenwood High school where she played basketball and was crowned homecoming queen still reel from the shock Monday and wonder if they could have seen it coming.

"He was like the really, really jealous type," said Archer.

Although they admit they didn't know him well, Roome's friends describe her fiance as controlling and say the two argued often. It was they believe a fit of jealousy that led to the argument and eventually Kelly's death.

"I was talking to her very best friend Kristin this morning and she said the fight had been about either her arm around another guy or touching another guy," said Freese.

Military service
Ian York, who was training to be a police officer, was a 2006 graduate of Greenwood High School. His family says he just returned from Kuwait in February. Since then, they say he was "depressed" and frustrated that he couldn't be home with his family.

For friends and family, there may never be enough answers.

"I don't know what drives somebody to kill but the reason that he did it we still don't know and it doesn't matter and it doesn't change anything. Our daughter is gone and we will never, ever get to see her again. All we have are these pictures," said Daniel Roome, Kelly's father.

All they have to hang onto are memories of a young girl with a passion for life and whose own ended too quickly.

Friends say Kelly Roome had lived in California a month but had broken off the engagement. She was planning to come home Saturday but a flight delay kept her there.

York's family speaks
York's family said Monday he was planning to turn himself in.

"He truly loved her that's why it's just so - it was a big mistake - a tragedy for both families. It shouldn't have been because I can't even imagine him doing something like this," said Cindy York, Ian York's mother.

York's mother said she was on the phone with her son when he was shot by police. She said he called to apologize about what happened.

Ian York's family is also in shock.

"He loved his family," said Tierra Hernandez, displaying photos of Ian York, who was her uncle. Hernandez says he treated her like a daughter.

The Airman 1st Class, who had a three-year-old son, was devoted to family. It is his family who now struggles to understand the circumstances surrounding his death.

"I don't know what happened, but that's not his character," said Cindy York. "He was going to turn himself in. That's what he said."

"She was on the phone. He said, 'Mom, they're right behind me. She said, 'Ian, stop.' Then she heard him get shot. I took the phone from her I said, 'Hello, hello?'" said Tabitha York, Ian's sister.

"He was calling everybody, texting everybody to say he was sorry, that it was an accident he didn't mean to do it," said Kevin York, Ian's father.

"He loved her. I know he loved her," said Tabitha York.

"It's just a sad situation," said Cindy York.

Military police and local authorities continue to investigate what happened this weekend. His family - and the family of the young woman shot to death - hope for answers soon.