Family Of Murder-Suicide Shooter Say Man Was Pushed Over Edge

Adrianna Iwasinski, News 9

MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma -- The family of the man who killed his ex girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself is speaking out. They said 29-year-old Patrick Ball was not a monster, but a man pushed over the edge.

Both the family and police confirm Ball and 21-year-old Amber Wright had a rocky relationship. The two had a 14-month-old daughter together named Amya.

"And I want her to know that she had a father that loved her, loved her with his life," said Patrick's uncle Dr. Curtis Ball.

Wright had filed 2 VPO's against Ball, but he had also filed a police report against her.

Friends, family and coworkers say Wright stalked Ball, hit him and vandalized his car and apartment numerous times. They say he was also very upset about not being able to see his daughter during their scheduled visitations, claiming Wright would keep the baby from him.

Friends say Ball wanted more than anything to have a good relationship with his daughter.

"He loved his daughter. He loved his daughter dearly," said Patrick's mother Gwendolyn Ball.

His mother said Patrick Ball was a soft spoken, gentle man who was not prone to anger.

"To have a bitter, monster demeanor, that was not Patrick. That was not Patrick," she said.

Ball worked at the nearby Crest grocery store for the past 10 years, starting as a sacker and then working his way up to be a butcher in the meat department. Coworkers say he was an excellent employee and very diligent but said they witnessed the tumultuous relationship between the couple.

Coworkers said Wright would often come up to the Crest store to argue with Ball even hitting him at times. The store manager said at one point she was barred from even coming into the store.

Though the Ball family does not dispute the fact that the 29-year-old pulled the trigger and that what he did was wrong, they say they hope Amber Wright's family will forgive him and allow both families to come together to raise Amya.

The Wright family agreed there was definitely more than just one victim in this case. And they said they do want to work with the Ball family to raise the 14-month-old.

A memorial fund has been set up at any Intrust Bank. The families said the money will be used to help with funeral costs and to help Amya.

More: Woman Killed By Ex-Boyfriend In Murder-Suicide Previously Filed 2 VPOs