Los Angeles court sends ‘How I Met Your Mother’ actor to prison for 32 years to life for attempted murder of girlfriend

It’s been almost two years to the date since Nick Pasqual, 36, stabbed his estranged ex-girlfriend, Allie Shehorn, 37, more than 20 times in her Sunland, California, home. On June 2, Pasqual was sentenced to 32 years to life behind bars by a Los Angeles court.

According to The Independent, Pasqual had previously been implicated by Shehorn in earlier instances of abuse. In fact, days before the attack, Shehorn had finally filed a restraining order against Pasqual, making grave allegations of rape, choking, physical assault with a belt, and breaking down the doors of her home.

Both Pasqual and Shehorn work in the entertainment industry. Shehorn has worked consistently as a makeup artist on more than 100 titles, according to IMDb. Pasqual, on the other hand, has also built a career for himself, with an appearance in one episode of How I Met Your Mother standing as his highest-profile credit.

Prosecutors told the court that on May 23, 2024, Pasqual broke into Shehorn’s home at 4:30 a.m. and attacked her, stabbing her multiple times. After the attack, Pasqual fled the state. Prosecutors told the court that the actor was found a week later at a U.S.-Mexico border checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas.

Shehorn reportedly took the stand with scars still visible on her arm and neck. According to ABC7, Shehorn said, “When I was lying on the floor in a pool of my own blood, I remembered wondering if this was how my life was going to end.” She tearfully continued, “You, who I had once trusted, decided my life was something that you could take away.”

The judge eventually gave Pasqual an opportunity to address the court on Tuesday, where the now-convicted actor expressed remorse and apologized to his victim. However, the judge was not particularly moved by Pasqual’s attempt to take accountability. The judge said, “You stated that you feel remorse for what occurred, but my response to you is, if that’s true, then why on April 29, during that phone call with your friend, did you mock Allie Shehorn for what she went through?”

The judge continued, “The evidence showed that Allie’s injuries were so catastrophic that she was clinically dead twice.” Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman pointed out that the case was a victory in the fight against domestic violence, which, according to Hochman, “thrives when its victims live in fear and stay silent.” Hochman credited Shehorn for having the courage to speak up.

Following his sentencing, the actor released a statement that read: “I remain deeply saddened by everything surrounding this case, and I continue to wish healing and peace for everyone affected.” Shehorn credited her survival to being found by a family member, who rushed her to the hospital in critical condition. She underwent a series of surgeries lasting 14 hours for both life-saving treatment and reconstructive procedures. She spent a week in the ICU but fortunately recovered enough to play an integral role in securing the justice she deserved.