Deadly Domestic Problem Claims Couple

"ASHVILLE, AL — A husband and wife are dead today after an apparent murder-suicide, authorities said Thursday.

"St. Clair County Coroner Dennis Russell identified the body of Brenda Crocker Potts, 55, of 32475 U.S. 231 in Ashville. Her husband, Kenneth Potts, 58, had apparently shot her.

"Russell pronounced Mrs. Potts dead on the scene at 8:20 p.m. Wednesday. The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.

"St. Clair County Sheriff’s Chief Investigator Joe Sweatt said it appears the couple was experiencing a domestic problem when the situation turned deadly.

"`A neighbor hears screams and gunfire, and then called Central Dispatch,` Sweatt said. `The call came in at 7:05 p.m. The first officer on the scene was an Ashville police officer and he went to the neighbor’s house.`

"Sweatt said when the officer did get to the Potts residence, Mrs. Potts was lying on the front porch and her husband was sitting in the front porch swing with a gun in hand.

"`After Mr. Potts shot his wife, he called 911 and told them what he had done,` Sweatt said. `When more officers arrived, they tried to get him to put the gun down but he refused, turned it on himself and fired a shot.`

"Potts was flown by LifeSaver to University Hospital in Birmingham. Russell confirmed late Thursday that Potts died at the hospital at 12:31 p.m."

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