Posted on 05/21/2006 8:02:32 PM PDT by Mr. Brightside
La. Man Accused of Killing Wife, 4 In-Laws
By DOUG SIMPSON, Associated Press Writer
39 minutes ago
BATON ROUGE, La. - A man gunned down four of his in-laws during a morning church service Sunday, abducted his wife and then shot her to death before he was captured nearby, authorities said.
Church members wept as they watched investigators examine evidence and search for clues. Anthony Bell, 25, of Baton Rouge, was arrested at an apartment complex, where his wife was found dead, police said.
It was unclear whether Erica Bell, 24, was killed at the complex, police said. Her three children, including an infant, also taken from The Ministry of Jesus Christ church were found safe, officials said.
Erica Bell's mother, church pastor Claudia Brown, was wounded and was in serious condition at a hospital, police said, but would not provide further details.
Brown's brother, Jeffrey Howard, said his sister had been shot in the back of the head but was able to give a statement to police.
Howard said Anthony and Erica Bell had some "domestic trouble" in the past.
Anthony Bell faces charges of murder, attempted murder and kidnapping.
Police and relatives said those killed were Erica Bell's grandparents, Leonard Howard, 78, and Gloria Howard, 72; her great aunt, Deloris McGrew, 68; and a cousin Darlene Mills, 47.
"This is going to be one of the worst days in the history of our city," said Police Chief Jeff LeDuff, who did not know a motive for the shooting. "This is senseless. This is a total waste of human life."
The small church shares space in an old warehouse with a guitar shop in a nonresidential area of Baton Rouge. Bell is believed to have entered and opened fire with a handgun shortly before services were to end around 10 a.m.
Hours later, police responded to a 911 call about a shooting at the apartment complex and found the woman dead and Bell holding the baby, LeDuff said.
It was unclear whether Bell was the father of the children.
Too bad he didn't kill himself and save everyone a lot of time. Scumbag
True dat. What a tragedy.
This dude could get a job at Hooters.
Those "boobs" should be a real hit with the prison population... :-))
Murderers Gone Wild.
What kind of monster has the audacity to open fire in a church? On his own family?
It's unthinkable what could drive a person to something like this. It's even moreso in the way it happened.
The brimstone is burning bright, my friend. The brimstone is burning bright. It's a shame that not even standing in the presense of holy place could open your eyes to that fact. There's forgiveness, but man, some people... _shakes head_
The PD and the press were reporting his car, tags, who he had in the car, which way he headed, and everything else except for one item; his description. Everybody was afraid to report that there had been a black male go beserk and killed four people at a church. PC gone beserk.....
My first thought also. That "Bro" needs a "Mansierre."
I pay no attention to the signs at the front door of my church.
GYN- NO - CO - MASTIA!!!!@@!!
DY - NO - MITE!! Look at Dem titties!
Of course it's fallacious to think that gun control would have prevented this in any way from happening.
This maniac might have gotten off 3, even 4 shots -- but he never would have left with hostages...
"That "Bro" needs a "Mansierre."
LOL! You said it all!
"Accused"? Surprised it didn't say "alleged".
law requires only 'accused' or 'alleged' until a verdict is in. Otherwise, a lawsuit on the paper/media and/or a mistrial for having been 'convicted' in the media
ya think?
I hope this isn't the apartment they lived in- for if it was, then why was it 'Hours" and took neighbors hearing gun shots before he police went there? Sounds like the wife could have had a chance if the police were on the ball, if this were their home...
And to think all this could have been prevented if only the church had posted a "No Guns Allowed" sign.
Yeah, that would have stopped this.
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