Shooting victim had obtained court protection order

BIDWELL, Ohio - A woman whose estranged husband shot her to death at a school before killing himself had obtained a court protection order accusing him of slapping, choking and threatening to kill her.

Linda Shoemaker, 52, was shot several times by her husband, Frank, 66, Tuesday morning while in her car at Bidwell-Porter Elementary School, where she worked as a cook. She died at the scene.

No students or teachers were in the school when Mrs. Shoemaker was shot. The school was closed Tuesday because of the shooting but classes resumed Wednesday.

Within 30 minutes of the shooting at the school, Shoemaker had shot himself in the head with the same gun he used to kill his wife, Coroner Dr. Daniel Whiteley said. Shoemaker's body was found in a lawn chair in the front yard of his home about eight miles from the school, Whiteley said.

Mrs. Shoemaker, who had recently moved out of their home in Bidwell, was seeking a divorce after 31 years of marriage, officials said.

In her court protection petition, she said her husband had abused her verbally and physically throughout their marriage. She said he had recently begun stalking her and making threatening phone calls.