Tuesday, October 25, 2011

St. Landry Parish, LA: UPDATE: Police release new details surrounding murder-suicide

Police released the names of the two people involved in what they believe was murder-suicide Tuesday, saying the incident stemmed from a domestic disturbance.

According to St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, 44-year-old Russell Clark died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in an Opelousas hospital Monday after he fatally shot 40-year-old Kathleen Clark on La. 103.

The SLPSO said they first learned of the incident after they received a complaint of a domestic disturbance with a firearm on Sonny Street in Opelousas. Police said Russell Clark used a shotgun to force his way into the residence, where he then took Kathleen Clark to the intersection of La. 103 and Arlington Rd. near Washington.

According to the investigators, it was at that intersection where Kathleen Clark jumped out of his moving vehicle.

After she jumped out of the vehicle, Russell Clark then exited the vehicle with a handgun and fired one shot hitting Kathleen Clark in the head and fatally wounding her. The SLPSO said Russell Clark then turned the gun on himself, shooting himself in the jaw.

The shooting happened around 1:30 p.m., and investigators said the shooting was witnessed by three people in the area. The SLPSO said when deputies arrived on scene they found Kathleen Clark’s body and a still responsive Russell Clark. He was transported to Opelousas General Hospital for treatment by emergency medical personnel, but police said he died that evening as a direct result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

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