Nurse Killed at Work by Estranged Husband in Domestic Violence Tragedy

Content Warning: This article contains discussions of domestic violence and suicide, which may be distressing to some readers. Please take care while reading and consider your well-being. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or visit thehotline.org for confidential support 24/7. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

A 38-year-old nurse was shot and killed by her estranged husband at a New Jersey rehabilitation facility on Monday morning, in what authorities described as a deliberate act of domestic violence.

Victoria Alexander, a licensed practical nurse at ExcelCare Rehabilitation Facility in Egg Harbor Township, was ambushed in the parking lot by her estranged husband, Brandon Alexander, 35, as she arrived for her shift around 6 a.m. on April 13. Brandon blocked her vehicle, placed two suicide notes on her dashboard, and followed her into the building after she tried to flee. He shot her multiple times before turning the gun on himself.

Brandon Alexander was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in critical condition and died the following morning from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The couple, who lived in Minotola, Buena Borough, had two sons together.

How the Shooting Unfolded

According to multiple reports, Victoria arrived at ExcelCare, a 120-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation center on Delilah Road, for her early morning shift. Brandon was already waiting in the parking lot. After he blocked her vehicle and left the notes, a food delivery driver intervened and asked Brandon to move his car, giving Victoria a brief window to run inside the building.

Brandon followed her into the facility and shot her multiple times. He then turned the gun on himself. Victoria was pronounced dead at the scene. No residents or other staff members were injured, though the facility's residents were shaken after being woken by gunfire and screams.

ExcelCare administrator Lior Benesti told reporters the shooting "has shaken everyone" and that the facility extends "our deepest condolences to her family and friends." He noted that staff followed established safety procedures to protect residents during the incident.

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Prosecutor Responds, Calls for Awareness

Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds did not hold back when addressing the killing, calling it "a tragic and deliberate act of domestic violence that escalated to deadly consequences."

"Domestic violence is not a private matter, it is a serious crime that destroys families and threatens public safety," Reynolds said. He also noted that "untreated mental health crises can contribute to escalating violence."

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office and Egg Harbor Township Police Department are leading the investigation. The killing marked Atlantic County's first homicide of 2026, ending a historic stretch in which the county recorded zero murders in the first quarter of the year.

Victoria's death comes just weeks after another New Jersey nurse, Tomeka Kamwani, 41, was killed in a suspected domestic violence incident in Swedesboro on March 28. Kamwani, also a mother, had obtained a restraining order against her attacker but was still killed.

What Nurses Need to Know

This tragedy is a stark reminder that domestic violence does not stay at home. For nurses, whose work schedules and locations are often predictable, the risk of being targeted at work by an abusive partner is very real.

Nurses in abusive situations should know that many healthcare employers have workplace violence prevention programs and employee assistance programs (EAPs) that can help with safety planning. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788.

Victoria Alexander leaves behind two young sons and a community of colleagues and patients who described her as "beloved."

🤔 Have you ever felt unsafe at your workplace due to a domestic situation, either your own or a coworker's? What did your employer do, or what do you wish they had done, to help? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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