Optometrist Michael Joseph Flick, of Lexington, Ky., is accused of assaulting his ex-boss and murdering his ex-boss girlfriend. The apparent motive: an unpaid debt on a LensCrafters franchise.

On Friday evening, May 20, shots were fired at the home of Lexington resident, Christina Wittich. Local police officers, responding to a phone call, found two people shot: Ms. Wittich and optometrist Randall C. Lambirth II. Also at the scene were two other men, one of whom had sustained physical injuries and was identified as the shooter, Dr. Flick.

Ms. Wittich, Dr. Lambirth and Dr. Flick were rushed to the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center in Lexington, where Ms. Wittich was pronounced dead. Ms. Wittich was Dr. Lambirths girlfriend, according to a report from the local newspaper, the Lexington-Herald Leader.

According to court documents, Dr. Flick admitted to police that he fired shots at Ms. Wittich and Dr. Lambirth. Dr. Flick has been charged with murder and assault. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and is awaiting trial.

The incident may stem from a business disagreement. According to court records filed in March, Dr. Flick was suing Dr. Lambirth and Dr. Lambirths optometry practice for two counts of breach of contract concerning the September 2003 sale of his LensCrafters franchise to Dr. Lambirth. The agreed upon sum for the franchise was $144,000. According to Dr. Flicks suit, Dr. Lambirth still owed him $33,750. Dr. Flicks suit also alleges wrongful termination without cause. As part of the agreement of sale of the franchise, Dr. Flick was to remain an employee of the LensCrafters for three years. His employment was terminated in November 2004.

Dr. Lambirth filed a response to the suit in April. He maintained that Dr. Flick was indeed terminated from employment, but that he owed no further money to Dr. Flick. He requested that Dr. Flicks complaint be dismissed. The case is still pending.

The Lexington HeraldLeader contributed to this story.