BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top photo: First Responders surrounded the home where two people were killed Saturday. The apparent shooter in that case has since succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
William Jefferies, 64, has died from a self-sustained gunshot wound after reportedly murdering his wife and his mother in their home last week in Elmore County.
His wife, Susan Jefferies, 62, and his mother, Joyce Jefferies, 84, were pronounced dead at the scene by Elmore officials. William Jefferies then reportedly shot himself in the home before first responders arrived.
The bodies of the two victims were taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for autopsies, Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said. Jefferies succumbed to his injuries Sunday evening. He had initially been taken by Haynes LifeFlight to an area hospital with critical injuries.
“This is just a very tragic circumstance,” Franklin said. “This was a good family who just had some issues going on and it is the worst possible outcome.”
A 911 call was made just after 1 p.m. Saturday, with a family member saying Jefferies claimed to have shot his wife, had plans to kill his mother and would then turn the gun on himself.
When Elmore County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived shortly afterward, they found the females in separate rooms of the home, deceased. William Jefferies was in critical condition.
Several other people in the home at the time were not physically injured.
“We located all of the shell casings in the house, and believe that we understand the circumstances,” Franklin said. “It appears he did exactly what he had said he was going to do.”
If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation, help is available. Please contact law enforcement, reach out to family. An area agency who can help is the Family Sunshine Center. You can view more on them at their website at familysunshine.org.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Or, Text GO to 741741 to reach a trained Crisis Counselor. This is a free hotline open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
