SNELLVILLE, GA — A routine child custody exchange turned deadly on April 26, 2009, when 25-year-old Heather Strube was shot in broad daylight in a busy Target parking lot in Snellville, Georgia, leaving her family and an entire community stunned.
Heather, a local florist known for her bright spirit and devotion to her young son, had arrived at the store around 6 p.m. to meet her estranged husband, Steven Strube. Their 18-month-old son, Carson, was passed from father to mother without incident. But as Steven drove away, tragedy struck.
Witnesses saw a small-statured individual approach Heather near her SUV. The person appeared to be wearing a wig and fake mustache.
“All of the witnesses described some kind of confrontation between Heather and the murderer,” recalled former reporter Sandra Parrish. Moments later, the assailant reached into a shoulder bag, pulled out a gun, and shot Heather once in the head before calmly walking away.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene following frantic 911 calls. Police found Heather lying lifeless beside her SUV.
“It takes somebody that’s truly evil to shoot somebody in the forehead in broad daylight and then just calmly walk away,” said then-Detective Trey Downs of the Snellville Police Department.
Investigators immediately retrieved surveillance video from surrounding stores. At the crime scene, officers noted the absence of shell casings, suggesting the shooter used a revolver or deliberately collected the evidence.
A police canine unit traced the suspect’s scent into nearby woods, ending near a parking lot. Police believed a getaway vehicle was waiting there.
As police dug into Heather’s background, they found a young mother whose life had recently been marked by turmoil.
Heather, who worked as a florist just outside of Snellville, met Steven Strube at church when she was 16. They married in 2004 and welcomed Carson three years later. But in 2008, the marriage crumbled after Heather discovered Steven was having an affair. Their split led to bitter disputes over child custody.
“They were fighting a lot over the custody of Carson,” Parrish explained. To avoid heated confrontations, the couple arranged custody exchanges in public places like the Target parking lot.
Heather’s father, Buddy Allen, described his daughter as having a “sparkling personality” and being a loving mother.
The investigation into her murder would eventually lead to an unexpected and shocking suspect, revealing a twisted plot involving betrayal and premeditation.
Heather Strube’s case remains one of the most chilling examples of how domestic strife can spiral into deadly violence—even in broad daylight, in a crowded public space.
