KEY WEST, FL – When authorities responded to a fatal shooting in a Florida Keys residence, they found Tyler Kinnon Nulisch, 30, fatally wounded from a gunshot. Brittany Nicole Holbrook, 35, his girlfriend, was present at the scene. She initially claimed she shot Nulisch in self-defense after he reportedly choked her. However, detecting discrepancies in her story, deputies noticed Holbrook bore no physical evidence supporting such a claim.
On Friday, Holbrook was sentenced to 40 years in prison for second-degree murder, according to online court records. Evidence presented in court confirmed she shot Nulisch in the lower back during an altercation on June 17, 2023. In a haunting recount from his final moments, Nulisch told his roommate, “The b—- shot me in the back,” as reported by deputies.
In February, a jury found Holbrook guilty of the crime, unraveling a tragic love story turned lethal. Friends of the couple depicted them as deeply in love yet acknowledged Holbrook’s behavior drastically shifted when she consumed alcohol. “Normally, they seemed like the perfect couple,” one friend remarked, admitting that Holbrook’s demeanor darkened under the influence.
Another account stated that Holbrook could transform into “a monster” during drinking episodes, exhibiting volatile behavior, including screaming, throwing objects, and physically assaulting Nulisch.
Witnesses reported that on the night of the incident, Holbrook, Nulisch, and a roommate had been drinking together prior to an argument that escalated fatally. The roommate later awoke to Holbrook’s screams, a chilling prelude to Nulisch’s tragic demise.
Further testimony revealed that just two days before the shooting, Holbrook expressed violent intentions towards an ex-boyfriend, allegedly graphically describing how she would kill him. “It was like hearing someone describe gutting a deer,” said a friend, underscoring Holbrook’s apparent disconnect when intoxicated.
Having been convicted, Holbrook will receive credit for 665 days already served behind bars. Despite the circumstances, the tragic unraveling of a seemingly idyllic relationship serves as a stark reminder of the unforeseen turns domestic situations can take when complicated by issues such as substance abuse.
As the legal chapter closes on this case, the local community continues to grapple with the loss and the lessons learned from Nulisch and Holbrook’s tragic narrative.