David Nunley, the man shot and killed by his ex-wife in Plano this weekend, had filed for a protective order against her nearly two years prior to his death. Documents obtained by WFAA show that in his request for the 2022 protective order, Nunley expressed concern for his and his children’s safety, citing a history of mental health issues and violent behavior from his ex-wife, Merridith Nunley.
In the protective order filing, Nunley detailed instances of Merridith Nunley pointing a gun at him, biting him, hitting him, and damaging his car. He also included a text message from April 2022, allegedly from Merridith Nunley, in which she threatened to kill herself or engage in a violent rampage that would leave their children orphaned.
A friend of Nunley’s told WFAA that Nunley had expressed concerns about his safety hours before the shooting. The friend urged him to get away, but Nunley was reportedly fearful of his ex-wife despite her violent history.
At the time of the shooting, Nunley was on the phone with his 7th-grade daughter. None of his five children were home at the time, including three school-aged kids he shared with Merridith Nunley.
Police arrested Merridith Nunley about a mile from the home and booked her into the Collin County Jail early Saturday morning. The couple had finalized their divorce in October 2022, with David Nunley granted custody of their children.
Nunley’s family has started a GoFundMe to support his children’s future. They believe he was trying to help his ex-wife get on her feet despite the ongoing threats and violence he faced.
