Couple Survives Attempted Double Murder/Suicide

"ROANOKE, VA — Police said Monday that family issues led a man to shoot his brother-in-law and sister at a northeast Roanoke home Sunday evening before shooting himself in the head.

"Thomas Hubert Radford Jr., 61, of Salem died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the backyard of a home in the 100 block of Houston Avenue NE, police spokesman Sgt. Jason Holt said.

"Radford’s brother-in-law, Ernest John Booden, 72, was shot in the abdomen, and Radford’s sister, Cynthia Radford Booden, 60, was shot in the arm, Holt said. Phone listings list the Boodens as residents of the home.

"Officers responded after Cynthia Booden phoned 911 from a neighbor’s home at 6:29 p.m. to report that she had been shot, Holt said. Police arrived and found the Boodens outside with wounds.

"Radford was found in the backyard of the Boodens’ home with a firearm lying near him, Holt said. An autopsy conducted by the Roanoke medical examiner’s office corroborated witness reports and evidence from the scene that indicated Radford shot himself after firing on his sister and her husband.

"Holt said Ernest Booden was shot in the basement of the home, and Cynthia Booden was shot elsewhere in the residence.

"The Boodens were taken by ambulance to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Holt said. Hospital spokesman Eric Earnhart said Monday evening that he had no information about either person’s condition."

From roanoke.com...