Kentucky Condo Shooting: Man kills ex-girlfriend, eight-year-old daughter, self in murder-suicide, cops say
(CBS/AP) LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A shooting at a Kentucky condominium complex was carried out by a man who fatally shot his ex-girlfriend and their 8-year-old daughter, wounded his mother during a struggle and then killed himself, police said Thursday.
Two other relatives - the former couple's 12-year-old son and the gunman's uncle - fled the rampage that Louisville police on Thursday called a premeditated murder-suicide.
The group had gathered at the uncle's condominium Wednesday afternoon to swim at the complex's pool when an argument broke out and the gunman opened fire, said Louisville police Lt. Todd Kessinger.
"We don't know exactly what made the situation erupt," he said.
Deputy Coroner R.D. Jones identified the suspect as 40-year-old Gary Stewart. He died of a single gunshot wound to the head, Jones said.
The two victims were 36-year-old Jillian Wood and her 8-year-old daughter, Shelby Stewart. Both reportedly died of multiple gunshot wounds.
All three died at the scene.
Stewart's mother, who was not identified by police, was in critical condition Thursday at University of Louisville Hospital, Kessinger said. The woman, described by police as being in her 60s, was shot multiple times, he said.
Police had not found any note left by Stewart.
"We do feel that it was premeditated," he said. "They had been together all day long."
Stewart pulled out a handgun after the argument erupted in his uncle's condo, Kessinger said.
The gunman shot his ex-girlfriend and then their young daughter, the police spokesman said. During the shootings, Stewart struggled with his mother for the weapon, he said.
"The mother and the uncle tried to confront him and stop it from happening," he said. "That's when we believe the mother was shot. It's at that point that the uncle was able to get the 12-year-old son out of the house."
Stewart shot himself after his ex-girlfriend, their daughter and his mother were shot and his son and uncle had fled, Kessinger said.
The shootings occurred at the Lakeview Condominum complex near a neighborhood of upper-middle-class homes in Louisville.
Alexa Hall, a resident, told The Courier-Journal newspaper of Louisville that she was at the complex's pool when a man and a boy came running, shouting that shots had been fired. They urged bystanders to call police, according to the newspaper.
Hall described a scene of panic and confusion soon after the shooting.