A Kentucky man is facing a potentially lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of fatally shooting his girlfriend with what authorities described as a “special bullet.” The announcement was made this week by officials in the Bluegrass State.

Damien Hebbeler, aged 23, was found guilty of intentional murder on Tuesday by a jury in Lewis County. The conviction stems from the death of 20-year-old Kylie Marie Weitz in August 2023, according to a press release from the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office.

“Today’s verdict is a significant step towards justice and is a reminder that Kylie Marie Weitz’s life was valued,” said Attorney General Russell Coleman. “Kentucky is committed to addressing domestic violence with the seriousness it deserves, ensuring offenders are held accountable.”

The tragic event took place on August 9, 2023, at a home located on Willis Lane in Garrison. This small community is situated just south of the Ohio border, approximately 100 miles northeast of Lexington.

That evening, around 6 p.m., the Kentucky State Police were called to assist the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office with a report of an unresponsive female, as detailed in arrest documents reviewed by the Ledger Independent.

The sheriff informed state troopers at Post 8 that Weitz had suffered a gunshot wound to her face. Initially, a 911 caller claimed that Weitz had accidentally shot herself, according to reports.

When troopers arrived at the house, Weitz was lying on the floor near the front door frame and pronounced dead at the scene.

Three hours after the first 911 call was placed, Hebbeler was arrested and charged with Weitz’s murder. Investigators said the man quickly admitted to pointing a loaded pistol at the woman’s face, squeezing the trigger, and firing the fatal bullet that took her life.

Hebbeler was first detained in the Greenup County Detention Center and then transferred to the Lewis County Jail as the investigation continued and the legal process played out over the next few years.

In September 2023, the now-convicted man was formally indicted for Weitz’s murder, according to the Lewis County Herald.

Later, the defendant had even more to say about it.

During his trial, Hebbeler admitted to carrying a “special bullet” with him, authorities said. Investigators determined this same round was the one used to shoot Weitz in the face at close range and kill her.

The murder did not come entirely without warning.

“Less than a year before the shooting, the defendant made statements that he wanted to kill Weitz,” the AG’s press release reads.

An obituary for the woman remembered her fondly as a vibrant member of her community with a close and extended family as well as numerous friends who will all “sadly miss her.”

“Kylie was a waitress at Buffalo Wild Wings,” the eulogy reads. “She enjoyed cheerleading, running track, playing volleyball, working as a life guard, traveling, going out to eat and being with her friends.”

The killer’s jury recommended a 50-year sentence, which will be taken into consideration by the judge during sentencing slated for June 5.