A former South Carolina middle school teacher is accused of shooting her ex-boyfriend before turning the gun on herself in what police say was an attempted murder-suicide.

Jennifer Rudemyer, 39, was found dead outside her ex's Spanish Wells Plantation home around 6.15pm on Tuesday, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office said. She died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Near Rudemyer's body was wounded Dr. Gaston 'Gus' Perez suffering from four to five gunshots to the upper body. The 60-year-old was taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah and is said to be in stable condition.

Perez's son Alex told the Island Packet on Thursday that his father was shot in the chest, near his face and in his hands as he tried to block the bullets' path. The surgeon who operated on Perez said he was lucky to be alive.

Jennifer Rudemyer is accused of shooting her ex-boyfriend, Dr. Gaston 'Gus' Perez, multiple times before committing suicide

The shooting happened outside of Perez's Spanish Wells Plantation in South Carolina

'I just feel so, so, so lucky he survived,' Alex said. 'I know a lot of families don't get breaks like this when tragedy falls.'

Perez's daughter, Mel, wrote on Facebook that he was resting in the ICU.

'Dad is in the ICU and resting, won't be able to see him for another few hours but so happy to know he pulled through. He's the strongest man I know. Thanks for all the sweet messages and support and will try and keep you all updated,' she posted.

Authorities said based on witnesses accounts, the crime scene and information they gathered it appears that Rudemyer shot Perez in an attempt to kill him. She then turned the gun on herself.

According to a police report, the couple had dated on and off for roughly eight years. Reports indicate that they had recently broken up.

Hours before the shooting, Perez was granted a restraining order against Rudemyer, who he claimed would follow him, show up to his job and threaten him.

A friend of Rudemyer told the Island Packet that Rudemyer had allegedly admitted to wanting to kill her ex-boyfriend a week before the shooting.

Rudemyer, 39, allegedly had threatened to buy a gun and shoot her ex-boyfriend a week before the attempted murder-suicide

Lauren Church, who said she had been friends with Rudemyer for a decade, told the outlet that on August 28 Rudemyer contacted her and told her that she was trying to buy a gun. Rudemyer allegedly told her friend that she was going to kill Perez and then kill herself

'I didn't really know what to say,' Church said. 'I encouraged her many, many, many times to seek help.'

Church said she sent an anonymous tip to authorities alerting them to what Rudemyer said also told Perez about his ex-girlfriend's threats.

Another friend, who's name has not been revealed, said they received a similar disturbing phone call from Rudemyer on August 28. The friend contacted authorities who went to Rudemyer's home to perform a health and wellness check. Police said they found the 39-year-old in bed intoxicated.

'Ms. Rudemyer said she was fine and that everything was okay,' the police report stated. 'After talking to her for several minutes Ms. Rudemyer did admit that she was having a rough time and she agreed that she wanted to be voluntarily transported to the hospital.'

The report said she was taken to Hilton Head Medical Center, but provided no further details.

Perez was granted a restraining order against Rudemyer hours before she allegedly tried to kill him outside his home

Capt. Joe Babkiewicz confirmed to the Island Packet that the department received tips about Rudemyer but did not say if any action was taken. He told the outlet that the tips are 'still being pursued at this point'.

Perez is a licensed family practice physician and owns Global Family Medicine in Bluffton. According to a LinkedIn page, he's also the medical director of Hospice Care of South Carolina and the home health care company Amedisys.

Rudemyer taught at Hilton Head Middle School in 2003 and 2004, and at H.E. McCracken Middle School from 2008 to 2017. She was also the owner of a home and business organization company called Coastal Cluster Queens.