Law enforcement authorities have launched a manhunt for Aaron Pennington, a 33-year-old Air Force veteran suspected of fatally shooting his wife, Breanne Pennington, at their residence in Gardner, Massachusetts. Police are actively seeking Pennington, who is described as a white male, 6’2″ tall, weighing 175 lbs, with blond hair and blue eyes. Massachusetts State Police have declared him “armed and dangerous.”
The tragic incident unfolded when police responded to a disturbance call at the Pennington residence on Cherry Street in Gardner, located approximately 70 miles west of Boston, shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of Breanne Pennington, 30 years old.
The couple’s four young children had fled the house and sought refuge at a neighbor’s home, according to Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. The Department of Children and Families currently has custody of the children.
Authorities revealed that Pennington’s white BMW was located on Monday night in a wooded area at Camp Collier, a scout camp in Gardner. An extensive search of the surrounding wooded area was conducted, but Pennington remained at large.
On Monday afternoon, a shelter-in-place order was issued for residents in the vicinity of Pennington’s home but was subsequently lifted later that evening, according to Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson’s office.
Police obtained reports stating that the neighbor called 911 because Pennington’s distressed children had come to her residence, unable to locate their father while their mother was crying in her bedroom.
Investigations revealed that the couple had been dealing with marital problems, and Breanne Pennington had plans to move to Texas with the children to distance herself from her husband.
Breanne had a firearm in the residence for her personal protection, though neither of the Penningtons possessed a Massachusetts firearms license.
Aaron Pennington’s LinkedIn profile indicated that he previously worked as a senior supervisor at Raytheon Missiles & Defense, but a spokesperson for Raytheon confirmed that he had not been employed with the company for some time.
Before his time at Raytheon, Pennington’s LinkedIn history showed that he served in the U.S. Air Force for over eight years as an airlift and special missions aircraft maintainer. On his Facebook page, he identified himself as a “Father, and Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.”
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Authorities are urging the public not to approach Aaron Pennington if sighted and to call 911. Those with information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Massachusetts State Police at 508-829-8236.