Prayer Request for FReeper's Neighbors

August 3, 2002 | Saundra Duffy

[Saundra Duffy]

A terrible tragedy happened today to our neighbors across the street in Fresno. Their son shot and killed his estranged wife and then killed himself - leaving two kids behind, a boy 10 and a girl 6. Our neighbors' names are Mr. & Mrs. Dick Davis. Mr. Davis served in the Marine Corps and they always fly the American flag and the Marine Corps flag side-by-side. The family is distraught, naturally. Neighbors are going over to provide comfort. And guess what happened?! The Fresno Chief of Police, Jerry Dyer, showed up over there to pick up the little boy and take him to the Grizzly game tonight to be the special guest of himself and our Mayor, Alan Autry.

[Saundra Duffy]

Such a terrible tragedy. Please pray for our neighbors. Thank you.

[Saundra Duffy]

The Aunt has already come forward to say she wants to raise the kids. Thank God!

[Saundra Duffy]

I read my post and realized it's confusing. Our neighbors, the Davis' - it was their son and ex daughter-in-law who are dead. How could this have happened?!

[Saundra Duffy]

Prayer bump. I feel so sad for them.

[Fred Mertz]

I pray the children will weather the storm. What a tragedy.

[ward_of_the_state]

Prayers offered up to our Heavenly Father, that in His infinite wisdom and mercy, He will bring good from this tragedy. Lord, please also provide comfort and strength to this family in their hour of need, and please protect and bless these dear children who have lost their parents. Please also provide for the repose of the souls of these two people that they may have allowed you into their hearts in their last moments so they may join in Your Heavenly Kingdom. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

[pubmom]

Prayers for all involved.

[fatima]

as I read what happened,count me in for prayers for the all

[bootless]

Oh, Saundra... Loving and healing prayers going up right now...

[cowgirlcutie]

I pray that God comforts this distraught family and these precious children.

[Saundra Duffy]

Thanks for your prayers and concern. Lager was in tears as he went over to try to help. Words fail. The neighbors are coming together which is good. God bless this family.

[Saundra Duffy]

Thank you so much.

[Saundra Duffy]

Hi, bootless. It's the house right across the street a little to the right. Maybe you can picture it. Mr. & Mrs. Davis are wonderful people - patriots. They are hurting so much.

[brat]

How tragic! Davis family prayer bump!

[Saundra Duffy]

Here's the story from the "Fresno Bee": Fresno man shoots wife, self Children begged their father not to fire in city's second murder-suicide this week. By Jennifer Fitzenberger The Fresno Bee (Published Saturday, August, 3, 2002, 7:02 AM) As his children pleaded with him to stop, a husband fatally shot his wife, then killed himself Friday afternoon in the front yard of their northeast Fresno home, police and neighbors said. "Daddy, no! Daddy, no! Please stop," the children, ages 10 and 6, shouted as their father pointed a handgun at their mother's head and pulled the trigger, said Chang Thao, who lives across the street from the couple on the 4500 block of East Fedora Avenue. The parents, a 39-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman, died at the scene. Police did not release their names, pending notification of their relatives. After the slaying, the children ran to the comforting arms of neighbors, who emerged from their homes after hearing the gunshots. The children are staying with relatives. It is the second domestic-violence related murder-suicide this week. On Wednesday, a man fatally shot his wife just feet from their sleeping children, then killed himself inside their Fresno apartment. Fresno police Lt. Mike Brogdon said the couple on Fedora recently had separated after 15 years of marriage. Neighbors said the wife moved out of the home several months ago, but they had joint custody of the children. About 2 p.m., the wife came over to pick up the children. As the 6-year-old girl climbed into her mother's car, her parents started to fight. The father then walked inside, grabbed the handgun, went back outside and pointed it at his wife. Brogdon wouldn't say what they were arguing about, but said it "was really insignificant." Said Brogdon: "It was just one of those domestic disturbances." Neighbor Sue Thao, 19, heard the shots, then looked out her door to see the children running to the edge of their driveway. The girl was sobbing. The boy had a cordless phone to his ear. "We need help," the boy shouted into the phone. "My parents just shot each other." A neighbor put his arm around the children as Chang Thao, 20, tried to calm them down. "Don't worry about it. Don't cry," Chang Thao told them. "Everything is going to be all right." Neither parent was moving. The mother lay on her back in the driveway. The father was on his side in the grass near bushes next to the house. A relative, contacted at the home after the shooting, declined to comment. Neighbors had trouble believing what happened. There had been no signs of domestic violence, they said. "You couldn't tell they had a family problem," Chang Thao said. "They looked very happy together." The parents were friendly, often chatting with neighbors and helped them when they could. The husband was in the tow-truck business. He once helped Sue Thao's father when his vehicle broke down, she said. The husband owned a couple of personal watercraft and collected vintage hot wheels cars, neighbor Idalia Morgutia said. Neighbors said the wife was more reserved and less sociable than her husband. As neighbors consoled each other outside their homes, their thoughts and prayers were with the children. "Most of all, I feel sorry for the kids," Chang Thao said. "Now they don't have a mother. They don't have a father." The reporter can be reached at jfitzenberger@fresnobee.com or 441-6313.

[AnnaZ]

Prayers for those poor children especially. How heartbreaking.

 

:(

[tubebender]

Another nighmare that the survivors will never overcome. So sorry for the family.

[Pegita]

Joining your Freeper family in prayer ... may godly wisdom be given in the care of these children ... may comfort and strength be the family's portion at this time ...

[stainlessbanner]

Prayers for the children

[BlackVeil]

WS: Joining you in every word of that prayer. May the Lord, in His very great mercy, bring all souls to heaven. Especially those most in need of our prayers.