On February 14, 2023, Kateryna Tovmash, a 21-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was fatally shot in her home in the Woodlake community of Vass, North Carolina, along with her boyfriend, Matthew Wade. The primary suspect in the case is 25-year-old Caleb Hayden Fosno, Tovmash's ex-boyfriend, who allegedly broke into her home and shot the couple while Tovmash's siblings were also present but unharmed. The incident has shocked the local community and raised concerns about domestic violence and the safety of refugees in the United States.

Details surrounding the tragic event reveal that the attack was premeditated, as Fosno reportedly forced one of Tovmash's siblings to wake her before the shooting occurred, indicating a deliberate assault rather than an impulsive act. After the crime, Fosno fled the scene and subsequently evaded capture until his arrest in Ohio. This incident highlights the ongoing issues related to domestic abuse and the challenges faced by refugees adjusting to life in a new country, underlining the need for better support systems for vulnerable populations.

The victim, Kateryna Tovmash, came from Bila Tserkva, Ukraine, and had been living in the United States for approximately two years with her family. Her untimely death brings attention to the sometimes perilous circumstances faced by refugees, who often endure not only the trauma of displacement but also face additional threats in their new environments. As law enforcement continues to investigate the case, the community mourns the loss of Tovmash, advocating for safer conditions for those who have relocated to escape violence and instability in their home countries.