On Thursday, six people in Tennessee were reportedly found dead in a burning home in a suspected case of murder-suicide.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said three children were found dead at a home in Sequatchie. The Daily Mail reported that the suspected shooter is Gary Barnett, and among the victims are his wife, Regina Barnett, and her adult daughter, Britney Perez, who was visiting at the time.
Two of the slain children were said to be the Barnetts’ grandchildren. Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett said it is unclear how many of the victims were shot, but two of them apparently died from smoke inhalation, according to WTVC.
Marion County and Jasper police initially responded to the residence for a reported shooting. Upon arriving, they discovered the home was on fire.
WSB-TV reported that a surviving victim, an adult, was shot three times.
The Daily Mail reported that the sextuple murder-suicide occurred after Regina Barnett got a restraining order which barred Gary Barnett from their home.
In 2022, Regina Barnett told a judge that she feared her husband who had been charged with domestic assault. Records indicated that the order of protection was active at the time of the slayings.
“My soon-to-be (e)x husband threatened to shoot me and he verbally abuses every day. He also threatened to shoot my dog. He also has anywhere from 50 to 60 guns in his room. I am afraid he will get drunk and shoot me,” she wrote, per WSB-TV.
Right now, authorities believe Gary Barnett shot some of the victims before setting the fire and turning the gun on himself.
This story is developing.
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[Featured image: WKRN video screengrab]
