A Kentucky man was shot to death in front of his new wife Sunday, the day after the couple returned home from their honeymoon.
Jason Spencer, 30, of Louisville, married his wife, Andrea, on Oct. 27, according to his Facebook page. Nine days later, he was dead.
WDRB in Louisville reported that Spencer and his wife were walking in the city's Cherokee Triangle Historic District when they were approached by two young men. Shots were fired during a confrontation, and Spencer was killed.
Police found one of the accused, a 15-year-old boy, with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound in another part of the city late Sunday night, the news station reported. He was taken into custody by officers, but it was not immediately clear if charges had been filed against the teen.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reported Tuesday that Spencer was carrying a gun of his own and returned fire during the altercation. Investigators were still looking for the second young man.
A photo was posted Sunday to Spencer's Facebook page that appeared to show him and his wife wearing their wedding rings at Disney World. Bride and groom Mickey Mouse ears sat on top of a sign that read, "We are just getting started."
“This may not have been true in the sense that Walt Disney meant it, but it is certainly true for Jason, (whose) faith was and is in the Lord,” a friend commented on the post Monday, after Spencer’s death.
Spencer had a vivid social media presence, including as creator of the Louisville Humor Twitter account, the Courier-Journal reported.
Spencer worked at Humana, which is headquartered in Louisville, as well as working part time at social media engagement company 520 East Brands, where he served as managing director of strategy.
"We are all just devastated," Shane Shaps, founder of 520 East Brands, told the newspaper. "He was a genius and a gem."
Officials at Humana released a statement Monday saying how much they would miss Spencer.
"Jason Spencer had an ever-engaging smile, can-do attitude and commitment to improving Humana for everyone we serve," the statement read, according to WDRB. "He worked for Humana for more than seven years, and was well-known across the organization as an innovator with our social media team, leading the Humana Advocates Program and our customer social care strategy. Jason was also a sought-after voice within the social media industry. We will miss him, and we are holding his family in our thoughts."
Jeff Ross, a friend and coworker at Humana, shared his thoughts during a vigil held Monday night in Spencer's honor, WAVE3 News reported.
"(I) just went over and stood at his desk and stared," Ross said, according to the news station. "It was just impossible to comprehend, because we had been following all of their joyous travels last week celebrating their honeymoon together."
Ross said that Spencer was an active member of his church, Sojourn Community Church, and part of a missionary group. It was in that group that he met his future wife, now his widow.
Sojourn Community Church leaders also released a statement Monday, in which they described Spencer as a longtime, faithful member.
"He loved life and lived it to the full," the statement obtained by WDRB read. "He was full of joy, quick to help and serve others. Jason was a faithful friend to many. He was a strong Christian who exemplified the love of Christ to everyone he met."
The statement said the church family was “grieving deeply together” and saddened by his loss.
“We are praying and caring for his wife, Andrea, his family and the community of friends who loved him dearly.”
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