Sheriff: Teen killed in apparent murder-suicide in Stanly Co.

STANLY COUNTY, N.C. — Stanly County authorities said they are investigating after an apparent murder-suicide Wednesday morning.
 
Officials said Amanda Christine Hill, 16, was shot and killed, and that Kristapher Michael Schmidt, 26, died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police responded to the house on Highway 73 around 8:20 a.m. Family members of the man said that the two were just friends.

"He was just loved so much and he was such a goodhearted person," said Chuck Schmidt, Kristapher's father.

Family members said Kristapher was baptized last Sunday.

The sheriff told Channel 9 that Kristapher left a note indicating he was upset that the girl's family didn't want them together and believes the man shot the 16-year-old before turning the gun on himself.

Officials said Kristapher's mother, Krista Cook, found them this morning.

"There was a couch and there was a TV out there and they'd watch movies out there," Cook said.

Cook said the last time she saw them, just after midnight, they were in her apartment and gave no indication of the violent deaths that were just hours away.

The Stanly County sheriff said a suicide note written by Schmidt told of his affection for Hill, and his frustration that her family did not want them together.

Investigators believe Schmidt may have shot Hill as she slept in the shed. Two families are grieving over two young lives lost.

"There's a lot of people hurting, and we all don't understand," Chuck Schmidt said.

WSOC