Posted on 01/14/2004 9:06:48 AM PST by Kennesaw
3 dead in Lilburn home invasion
By MIKE MORRIS Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
The victims: William Venable Sr. and William Venable Jr.
A longtime teacher and coach at Tucker High School and his 17-year-old son were killed Tuesday night during a home invasion in Gwinnett County.
Gwinnett police said Coach Bill Venable's home was the second house the suspect had barged into during a late-night crime spree that ended when police shot and killed the suspect.
"Lilburn police responded to a home invasion at 4813 Lula Street," said Gwinnett police Cpl. Dan Huggins. "The suspect came into the residence, demanded money, and also stole a red Honda Civic."
The suspect then drove the stolen car about a mile to the Woodfalls subdivision in Lilburn, where he entered Venable's house on Woodfall Way, "and that's when the killing started," Huggins said.
"The suspect entered that residence, and there were three people home, a male, a female and their son," he said. "The suspect got into some type of struggle with the 55-year-old male, and the son came downstairs to see what the commotion was."
The man -- later identified as the Tucker coach -- and his son, Bill Venable Jr., were shot.
The teen died at the scene, and his father died later at Gwinnett Medical Center.
After the shooting, the suspect fled on foot into nearby woods.
Helicopters and dogs were called in to track the suspect, and the suspect opened fire on a police dog, hitting the dog twice.
At that point, two Gwinnett police officers shot the suspect, Huggins said.
The unidentified suspect, who appeared to be in his early 20s, died at Gwinnett Medical Center.
The police dog, shot in the leg and chest, was taken to an emergency veterinarian clinic and was expected to survive, Huggins said.
A neighbor of the Venables, Delores Hendrix, said Venable's wife, Susan, was not hurt in the attack.
"I'm just making sure she's OK," Hendrix said Wednesday. "She came to my house. We've been neighbors for years. We're still obviously very distraught over what happened. It's just a horrible thing."
Tucker High School principal David Butler said Hendrix, who is in his Sunday School class, called him shortly after the shootings to tell him what had happened.
Police were not sure how the suspect entered the Venable home, Huggins said. "There does not appear that there was forced entry into the house," he said. "We don't know if the door was open or what the situation was at this point."
Huggins said the shooter apparently chose his victims at random.
"We don't have anything to indicate that this individual was ... connected to either residence," Huggins said.
According to the Tucker Tigers football team's Website, Venable and his wife had four children, a 19-year-old daughter, Amy, and sons Stephen, 27, Eddie, 24, and Bill Jr., 17.
Venable, who also coached the girl's track team and taught special education classes, received his bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia, and earned a master's degree from Georgia State University.
He had taught in the DeKalb school system for 25 years, the last 16 at Tucker High School. He formerly taught at the old Walker and Shamrock high schools.
Bill Venable Jr. was a senior at Tucker High School, and played center on the varsity football team.
Before classes started, Erica Ulmer, a high school junior, described the elder Venable as a a caring teacher. "He was very passionate about his coaching," she said.
She added that she was hesitant to go into the school building. "It's hard to go in there right now because everyone is crying."
Tucker Principal Scott Butler said the school would hold a moment of silence to remember the Venables Wednesday morning and and that officials would make an announcement about the deaths to students at 8:15 a.m.
Crisis teams also were at the school to talk with students.
Butler said Venable, who also taught special education students, had been at the school earlier Tuesday night for a wrestling meet.
Next-door neighbor Carla Parris called Bill Jr. "wonderful and polite, the perfect son -- everything was 'yes ma'am,' and 'yes, Mrs. Parris.' "
Parris, an administrator at Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital in Atlanta, said the teen often babysat for her children, 10-year-old Stephanie and 7-year-old Winston.
"Bill was the type of person, if I was really in a jam, I'd say, 'Bill, I've got to have a babysitter,' and he'd go, 'fine.' "
Parris said her family had lived next to the Venables for nearly nine years.
"I don't know how to explain this to my kids," she said. "What am I going to tell them?
My phrase "cowering in the bedroom" suggests being unarmed, terrified, helpless, defenseless - which I would hate to be. You worded what I was trying to say much better.
Searching your home for an intruder is, in general, not a good idea.....even if your armed. Wait for him to come to you.
Oh yeah! I'd like to have the element of surprise on my side if I ever meet up with a predator/intruder.
You mean the American Civil Libertarian's Union.
I would do what is absolutely necessary to ensure my family is safe - and no more.
One or two force on force simunition exercises should be enough to convince anyone that trying to clear their house ALONE against what may be more than one ARMED perp is a GREAT WAY to get shot.
Nothing wrong with arming yourself and protecting your loved ones, but the cop was HALF right when he said wandering through your house looking for trouble can get ugly, quick - even for operators that know how to conduct said search.
Complete, absolute total BullShat.
A little editing might help:
Your family's safety is far more likely to be preserved by (arming yourself), calling 9-1-1, and allowing experienced police officers to search your home, than by arming yourself and searching your home in the dark without calling police."
One of the many dirty secrets of the Democratic Party is that its passion for gun control began, and continues to be, from a desire to disarm African-Americans and thereby make them powerless and dependent. Russian expert Michael McFaul, writes Russakoff, “remembers [Condoleezza] Rice telling him she opposed gun control and even gun registration because Bull Connor could have used it to disarm her father and others” in 1963. You can read the whole article HERE.I really hate it when good articles get posted at off times and get too little attention.
Great Article!!
I will ensure my family's safety - if that means I risk a trip down the hall, or whatever is required, so be it.
My personal safety is of no consequence unless/until my kids/spouse are safe; OTOH I work hard to make sure I win.
Securing my kids/spouse outweighs any risk involved - but once that is accomplished, getting into a gunfight on purpose is counterproductive.
My only point here is that unless you HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE, searching your house alone is exceedingly dangerous regardless of how well trained and equipped you may be.
Locking myself in a bedroom and calling 911 would ensure the deaths of anyone in the house.
Somehow, this guy got in the house. But, it was late at night and the occupants should have been wary of a "visitor" at this time of night.
It sounds like the killer may have knocked, barged through the opened door, a scuffle ensued, the son showed up and then the shooting started. It's a shame Mr. Venerable didn't answer the door armed or his son didn't show up to the fight armed with more than just his fists. But, as the family apparently didn't own a firearm, they were stuck bringing empty hands to a gunfight in their own living room.
Calling 911 would not have changed a thing, assuming they had the time to do so while this was happening.
What a shame, and a tragedy for all!
"At that point, two Gwinnett police officers shot the suspect, Huggins said.
The unidentified suspect, who appeared to be in his early 20s, died at Gwinnett Medical Center.
Good job. One bright spot amongst the tragic deaths of Mr. Venable and son. Prayers for the family.
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