Summary (tl;dr)

Actor Nick Pasqual, known for a minor role in "How I Met Your Mother," has been sentenced to 32 years to life in prison for the attempted murder and forcible rape of his estranged ex-girlfriend, Hollywood makeup artist Allie Shehorn.

Essential Background

In May 2024, Allie Shehorn, a successful Hollywood makeup artist, filed a restraining order against her then-boyfriend, Nick Pasqual, an actor who had a small part in "How I Met Your Mother," due to alleged domestic violence. Shortly before the attack, Pasqual was arrested for a felony domestic violence charge against Shehorn but was released on a $50,000 bond.

The Full Story

On May 23, 2024, just days after his release on bail, Nick Pasqual broke into Allie Shehorn's Sunland home around 4:30 a.m. and brutally stabbed her over 20 times in various parts of her body, including her neck, chest, back, abdomen, arms, and wrists. Shehorn sustained critical injuries and underwent extensive emergency surgery and medical treatment, leaving her with permanent injuries and emotional trauma. Following the attack, Pasqual fled California but was detained at a U.S.-Mexico Border Patrol checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas. In May 2026, a jury in Los Angeles convicted him of attempted murder, forcible rape, first-degree residential burglary, and other charges. On June 3, 2026, Pasqual was sentenced at the San Fernando Courthouse to 32 years to life in state prison. During the sentencing, Shehorn delivered a victim impact statement, recounting the terror and pain of the attack.

Why It Matters

This case highlights the severe consequences of domestic violence and the importance of protective measures like restraining orders. The high-profile nature of an actor being convicted of such a brutal crime against his former partner brings increased attention to the issue, emphasizing the dangers victims face even after seeking legal protection. Shehorn's courageous testimony and survival underscore the resilience of domestic violence survivors and the critical role of the justice system in holding perpetrators accountable.

Geographic Location

• Sunland, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (stabbing attack at Allie Shehorn's home)
• San Fernando Courthouse, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (sentencing and trial of Nick Pasqual)
• Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth County, Texas, United States (arrest of Nick Pasqual at a U.S.-Mexico border checkpoint)