Would-Be Gun Thief Kills Two, Self

"ORIENT, OH — An Orient couple have been identified as the victims of a double murder Saturday night on state Route 762 near the state prison complex.

"Harry K. Butler, 68, and Eugenia Anderson, 62, were killed in the home they shared at 5386 Fairfield Road about 10 p.m. Saturday, victims of an apparent robbery by a neighbor.

"The suspect, Michael S. Melrose, 41, shot himself in front of Pickaway County Sheriff deputies in the back yard of the home as they arrived in response to a 911 call from the residence. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. Michael Geron, assistant county coroner.

"When deputies Tracy Andrews and Shad Wright and Sgt. Timothy Carpenter arrived on the scene within minutes of the 911 call, they spotted Melrose leaving the back of the residence with an armful of long guns he appeared to be stealing.

"According to Sheriff Robert Radcliff, deputies ordered Melrose to drop the weapons, which he did before pulling a pistol from the back of his waistband and shooting himself.

"Butler was discovered in the front room of the home, bound and wounded but still alive, Radcliff said. He died in the Scioto Township ambulance en route to Mount Carmel West Medical Center in Columbus.

"Anderson was discovered dead in a back bedroom of the home, also partially bound and a victim of gunshot wounds.

"Investigators said Melrose knew the victims and had performed odd jobs for the couple in the past. He lived just a few houses away from the murder scene."

From WOUB.org...

Botched Robbery Ends In Murder/Suicide

"WINSTON-SALEM, NC — Two men died Sunday in an apparent murder-suicide after they robbed a convenience store in northeastern Winston-Salem and then tried to flee from police on foot, city police said.

"The incident started about 12:40 p.m., when Trayvon Donnell McDaniel and Stephon Lavell Royster, both 22 and armed with handguns, robbed the EZ Pass Convenience Store on 559 Akron Drive as well as the clerk, police Capt. David Clayton said.

"About 50 minutes later, police officers searching for a dark SUV saw a black Ford Explorer near Old Rural Hall Road, police said. Before police officers could stop the SUV, the driver went into a private driveway, and the two men took off on foot.

"Several police officers chased McDaniel and Royster on foot, and other officers set up a perimeter several blocks long, including Ohio Street, Voss Street and Old Rural Hall Road, Clayton said.

"Police officers found McDaniel and Royster in a wooded field near the intersection of Old Rural Hall and the 5200 block of Cox Boulevard.

"About 2:20 p.m., as police officers approached the two men, they heard two gunshots, one right after the other.

"Neither man had fired at the police officers, and the officers had not fired at either man. But McDaniel and Royster fell to the ground, each with a gunshot wound to the head and a small-caliber handgun lying nearby, Clayton said.

"One of the men apparently shot the other and then himself, police said. An autopsy will confirm who shot whom.

"McDaniel was pronounced dead at the scene. Royster was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he died.

"`It was a dangerous situation for the officers,` Clayton said. `We're just glad that they chose not to shoot at the officers.`

"Police found evidence linking McDaniel and Royster to the convenience store robbery, Clayton said."

From news-record.com...

UPDATE:

07/19/2011 — Owner of SUV was third death in this murder/suicide...