Friends Remember 'Peacock Lady' Gunned Down In Southlake

Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter

FLOWER MOUND (CBSDFW.COM) -  Friends will gather this evening to remember Linda Martin, a well-known and respected real estate agent gunned down Tuesday evening in a busy Southlake shopping center.

Martin's estranged husband, Kenneth, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder.

"Absolutely stunned," said neighbor Linda Thornley, "stunned. I couldn't believe it."

Neighbors tell CBS11 that Kenneth Martin was quiet and soft spoken. While Linda, on the other hand, made her presence felt in Flower Mound. "She was a real fighter for what she believed in," recalled neighbor Michael Thornley, "any issues going on with the city and the community, she would go up to city hall and really fight for us."

Linda Martin, neighbors said, was also fiercely protective of her 'feathered friends.' When she found peacocks living in her Flower Mound neighborhood, she became an instant ally and lobbied city leaders to protect them. Soon, she became known as "the peacock lady"… and a real "go-getter."

"Sharp, sharp lady," said Linda Thornley, "and just very personable: nice, easy to get along with. Even if she disagreed with you, she was just lovely in how she handled it—and I liked her a lot. Everybody did around here."

Court records show that Linda filed for divorce in November of last year. Sources said she deflected condolences from neighbors with assurances that she was fine and that the split was welcomed. Still, no one on a street of lush lawns and roaming peacocks could have predicted that the dissolving marriage would lead to murder. Still, sources said there were rumors that Linda Martin was worried about her safety—and had sought a restraining order.

"She had paid for private security," added Linda Thornley, when asked about rumors that had circulated about steps Martin took to stay safe during the divorce, "the most she could take and what's available."

Family members today declined to comment. Nevertheless, neighbors have a message for them.

"We are so sorry," said Michael Thornley, "not only have they lost a great daughter, the community has lost a great representative and friend and neighbor."

The candlelight vigil is at Flower Mound's Peacock Park at 8 p.m.

Kenneth Martin's bail is set at $250,000.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)