Heavy Artillery Fails To Stop Double Murder/Suicide

"MOORESBURG, TN - Although the official causes of death are pending completion of autopsies, Hawkins County investigators believe two men and a woman found deceased early Tuesday morning at a Mooresburg residence were the result of a double murder/suicide.

"Hawkins County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to the residence at 443 Mooresburg Springs Road shortly before 8 p.m. Monday on a domestic disturbance, and shortly upon their arrival reportedly heard gunshots.

"The building was originally described as a barn, but deputies later found out [it] was a residence, although the ground floor was either unfinished or being utilized for storage.

"`Upon their arrival deputies heard voices inside, announced their arrival, and at that point heard several gunshots from inside the residence,` HCSO Lt. Detective Randy Collier said. `Deputies then backed off and took up position. At that time an unknown male came to the upstairs window displaying a gun and discharged the firearm. We don't know the direction (of that gunshot), and that's the last contact we had with anyone in the home.`

"Collier said that deputies unsuccessfully attempted to make contact with the people inside the building, and around 11:30 p.m. the HCSO Tactical Unit entered the ground floor and discovered a deceased male and female.

"`At that point they heard footsteps upstairs and then backed off to attempt to establish communications,` Collier said.

"In the early morning hours the HCSO's armored personnel carrier was deployed at the scene. Later Morristown police arrived with their robotic surveillance unit, although the layout of the building prevented the robot from reaching areas where the suspect might have been.

"The HCSO Tactical Unit later entered the residence, and the call came over the police radio at 4:35 a.m. that the residence had been secured. That's when the suspected shooter was discovered deceased on the second floor, Collier said.

"In the hours between the arrival of deputies and the discovery of the third body, authorities had described the incident as a standoff and a possible hostage situation. Dozens of police officers responded to the scene from Hawkins, Hamblen, Grainger and Hancock counties, as well as the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and attorney general investigators.

"As many as eight ambulances at one time and multiple rescue helicopters also responded to the scene and were on standby throughout the ordeal. Local volunteer firefighters directed traffic throughout the night where Route 31 was reduced to one lane due to being blocked by the tractor trailer that hauled in the armored personnel carrier.

"At least three nearby residences on Mooresburg Springs Road were evacuated until the scene was secured."

From timesnews.net...