ELYRIA — Lynn Nolan was afraid, convinced that her ex-husband would harm her.

On Tuesday, he did.

Police say that her ex, James H. Nolan, 48, went to the home the couple used to share at 616 Cambridge Ave. on Tuesday afternoon, shot Lynn several times and then turned the gun on himself.

When police arrived, they found James dead in the driveway and a wounded Lynn upstairs, their two teenaged daughters desperately administering first aid, Elyria police Lt. Andy Eichenlaub said.

Lynn, 37, was rushed to EMH Regional Medical Center, where she works as an emergency room nurse.

She later was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, where a nursing supervisor said she was in critical but stable condition late Tuesday.

She suffered at least four gunshot wounds, including one to the face.

“This has been an ongoing threat for a while,” said a close friend of the family, who didn’t want to be identified. “She was scared, and she was trying to find a way to stop him.”

The friend said that as recently as Monday, Lynn had talked with police, seeking ways to protect herself against her ex, who had grown increasingly erratic.

Records show police had been called to the Cambridge Avenue home six times since November, when the divorce paperwork was filed.

The divorce, finalized less than two weeks ago, had included restraining orders against both Lynn and James, according to court paperwork. The friend said that when Lynn talked with police Monday, she asked about obtaining a new restraining order against her former husband.

Eichenlaub said on Tuesday, James asked their daughters for a ride, and they stopped at Lynn’s house about 3:35 p.m. The girls told police that their father went inside, and a few minutes later they heard several gunshots. James then walked into the driveway from a side door, raised the gun to his head and pulled the trigger, they told police.

County Coroner Paul Matus said the evidence supports what the girls said, and he probably will rule James’ death a suicide today.

The girls are staying with their grandparents.

Mike White, who had been James’ best friend since the Nolans moved next door in 2000, said there was trouble Monday at the Cambridge Avenue house when an angry James showed up there. He left after the two talked.

“He was upset yesterday. I told him to calm down, but he was so angry,’’ White said. “I never expected this to happen.”

White said on Tuesday, he heard loud hollering coming from Lynn’s house and ran to the window. He never heard any gunshots, and the next thing he knew, police were swarming the house.

Other neighbors who gathered outside the home Tuesday said they couldn’t believe James — who owned OTM Trucking and was popular among his neighbors — could have done something so violent.

“Something had to have snapped inside him. This is not the person he was,” said Jayne White, who is married to Mike White.

Court records show James was arrested Oct. 25 on domestic violence and unlawful restraint charges involving an incident with Lynn. Those charges were dismissed, however, when Lynn failed to appear in court despite being subpoenaed, according to Elyria Municipal Court records.

A temporary protection order that required James to stay away from Lynn that had been in place as a result of the arrest ended Jan. 31, court records show.

Phyllis Calhoun, who lives across the street, said the Nolan house was a place that area children went to play. While James had lived there — he moved to Harwood Avenue after the divorce — he was a good neighbor and warmly greeted new people who moved to the street, she said.

Her husband, Jim Calhoun, said James knew everyone on the street, and he often would invite the whole block over for karaoke. He was the kind of guy who would just spontaneously throw a party, he said.

The Whites said they vacationed together with James and Lynn in Las Vegas last year and had an open-door policy with each other.

“Everyone loved James. He was the king of the street. And Lynn, she’s quiet, but wonderful to be around,” Mike White said.

Contact Jason Hawk at 329-7148 or jhawk@chroniclet.com.

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