THE husband of a former Miss Mississippi was shot dead in front of their toddler son on Saturday, she has revealed.
Ex-Miss America contestant Christine Kozlowski, 33, said in a Facebook post that 37-year-old Thomas Hand Jr was shot dead on the street by a teenager as two-year-old Roman watched from their home.
Jerimiah Walker, 17, was arrested at the scene.
Police and medics responded to the scene on Texas Street in Montgomery, Alabama, at around 4.30pm on Saturday afternoon after reports of a person shot.
They found Hand who had suffered a fatal gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kozlowski, who was Miss Mississippi in 2008, confirmed her husband's death in a heartbreaking Facebook post on Sunday.
"Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers during this time of the passing of my husband Tommy Hand," she wrote.
"I feel the love and support from everyone and just wanted to let everyone know that indeed Tommy was shot and killed last night on Texas Street in Montgomery AL.
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"I appreciate and welcome all of the messages, I’m just overwhelmed with all the questions and retelling of the details of what happened.
"I will at a later date release more information to explain everything to everyone."
Only two days before Hand's death, the couple had revealed in another Facebook post that Kozlowski is pregnant with their second child.
"The next Baby Hand Coming August 2022. Rest up baby boy, Mom is going to need your help,' she wrote in a Facebook message to her son.
On the same day, Hand had posted a loving tribute to his wife on their sixth anniversary.
The couple married in 2016.
"Beauty, smarts, caring about others, being an incredible mother, wife, and the list could go on and on," the young dad wrote.
"I never post much but wanted you to know today makes 6 years, happy anniversary Christine I love you very much, I can’t wait to meet our next baby this summer which is why I didn’t purchase you anything as I have already given you a gift."
Kozlowski's sister has established a GoFundMe page to help in raising the couple's son and unborn baby.
It had raised more than $26,000 by Wednesday morning.
MISS MISSISSIPPI
Kozlowski competed in Miss America for Mississippi aged 19.
Competing in January 2009, she won the swimsuit competition in the second night of preliminary competition at the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas, winning a $1,000 scholarship.
At the time, she was working on her Masters of Science and Nutrition & Dietetics degree as a student at the University of Southern Mississippi, WLOX reported.
Her chosen social platform for the competition was diabetes education; DANCE – Diabetes Advocated Nourishing Children's Education.
"I chose my platform because it affects something very close and dear to me: my mother," she wrote on the Miss Mississippi website.
"She is not the only member of my family diagnosed with diabetes, but so are my grandparents and seven of my aunts and uncles.
"I have learned just through observation all the hardships diabetics must manage and it encouraged me.
"After realizing how commonplace diabetes is in the nation and also how susceptible Americans are to this disease with our lifestyle and eating habits, I decided that this was the perfect platform for me."
Kozlowski became an internet sensation and appeared on Good Morning America again in 2014 when she got engaged at a One Direction concert, WLOX reported.
Kozlowski's then-boyfriend, Bradley Chisenhall, had reportedly contacted the band about the plan.
"I have a friend in the audience tonight," star Harry Styles told the crowd.
"He's called Bradley. Bradley, would you like to bring your girlfriend to the stage?"
"I think that the video speaks for itself. It was insane," Kozlowski said.
"I had no idea what was going on, but I just knew we got to the floor for some special reason, because initially we were in the nose bleeds.
"Before the concert, Bradley said, 'Harry got us tickets. They are at will call,' and I'm freaking out like how is this possible."
CAPITAL MURDER CHARGE
Walker is charged with capital murder for Hand's shooting and is being held in Montgomery County Detention Center.
Authorities said the secondary crime needed to charge a suspect with capital murder was shooting the victim in the presence of a child under the age of 14.
Cops have not yet revealed a motive or information on what sparked the shooting.
The shooting remains under investigation.
Anyone with any information related to this shooting should contact CrimeStoppers at 334-215-STOP, Secret Witness at 334-625-4000, or Montgomery Police Department at 334-625-2831.
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