Yvonne Abernethy, a 25-year-old resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, was fatally shot outside her apartment on June 18, 2024. The incident occurred at the Reserve at Lake Point complex, located at 5640 Lynn Lake Dr. S., shortly before 6 a.m..
Abernethy was shot in the hallway outside her apartment, which she shared with her father, Wendell Abernethy, and his girlfriend, Princess Ellis.
Wendell Abernethy reported waking up to the sound of gunshots and found his daughter on the ground with blood pooling around her. He immediately knew she was dead.
The investigation revealed a history of domestic violence between Abernethy and her ex-boyfriend, Jerome Isom. Abernethy had recently moved in with her father to escape the abusive relationship and had filed for emergency protection against Isom. A final hearing for the protection order was scheduled for the day after her death. Isom was already wanted on a battery charge related to allegations of abuse against Abernethy.
Security footage from the apartment complex captured the shooter entering the shared breezeway outside the apartment. Brice Hayes, a security guard and former classmate of Abernethy’s, was woken by the gunshots and rushed outside but did not see the shooter. However, he confirmed that the security footage showed the perpetrator.
Jerome Isom, 36, was identified as the suspect and was subsequently indicted for first-degree murder. At the time of the shooting, Isom was already in custody in Miami-Dade County on charges of drug possession and resisting arrest, which he was arrested for on June 20, two days after Abernethy’s death. He is set to be extradited to Pinellas County to face the murder charge.
Abernethy had expressed fears to those around her that Isom would seek revenge after she left him. Her father, Wendell Abernethy, told police that he fully believed Isom was responsible for shooting his daughter, citing previous instances of physical abuse, including swelling and bruising on her face and body.
Yvonne Abernethy is survived by her father, Wendell Abernethy, her sister, Umunique Carter, and other family members.
