Wednesday, May 26, 2010

GA Man Killed Wife, Set Fire to Home

From SavannahNow: a Bryan County, GA man is accused of killing his wife, firing a round of shots into a neighbor's home, setting his home on fire, and then killing himself.

"Just after 1 a.m., deputies got a call to a house on Smith Road - the complaint was somebody had shot through the house several times," said Bryan County Sheriff Clyde Smith. "It was true. They went to the house behind it, located at 20500 Ga. Hwy 144, and heard smoke alarms going off. ... The fire department entered the house, found two bodies in the bedroom on the bed."

Both had gunshot wounds to the head and were pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Smith, further investigation showed Jeffery Minor apparently fired two shots into the head of his wife, Gail, while she was sleeping.

An extreme series of events followed, Smith said. Minor went outside and fired 10 shots from an assault rifle through the house next door; went back into his house, ransacked it, set it on fire in a couple of places; returned to the bedroom; fired a shot from the same handgun he had used on his wife into his own head; and fell across her body.
These actions may sound bizarre, but never underestimate the danger of an abuser to his community. They may initially limit their violence to family, but it can quickly escalate to situations that put many others in danger. Even if he hadn't fired into the neighbor's home, the fire he set to destroy the evidence of his crime could easily have spread throughout the neighborhood. This is why we emphasize that domestic violence is not just a problem for the family immediately involved. If you know someone who is being abused, offer your support for her sake and for the safety of your own family.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Minor family.

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