A Mississippi man, wanted for the triple slaying of his mother and two sisters over the weekend, was shot to death in a shootout with Arizona police on Monday.

Ridgeland, Mississippi, Police Chief Brian Myers said that Ida Thomas Welch, 76; Vicky Renee Welch, 56; and Crystal Lynn Welch, 52, were found shot to death on Sunday when they didn’t show up for a family barbecue on Saturday and didn’t answer calls from other family members. Crystal Welch was president of Mississippi chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, WLBT reported.

According to KTVK, Myers said that a vehicle belonging to Ivory James Welch III, Ida Welch’s son, was seen leaving the scene of the murders.

“We tracked it all the way through to Dallas and understood it was obvious he was on the run,” said Myers.

At about 7:30 a.m. on Monday, the Arizona Department of Public Safety learned of a possible sighting of the fugitive in the Safford area in southeastern Arizona. State troopers joined Greenlee County sheriff’s deputies and Clifton police officers in the search for Welch, who was believed to be in the Morenci-Clifton area.

Investigators found his vehicle on US 191 between the two towns at about 10:30 a.m. and pulled him over. Welch got out of his car and fired at officers, Ridgeland Police said in a news release, according to WAPT.

“An arrest warrant was obtained and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force began searching for Welch,” Myers said in the release. “Arizona State Troopers attempted to apprehend Welch and he fired upon the troopers and was fatally wounded in the gunfight.”

No officers were shot, DPS told KTVK.

Investigators are still working on a motive, but Myers said that the killer “may have been upset about a funeral and his birthday which was on Friday.”

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[Featured image: Crystal Welch, Ida Welch, and Vicky Welch/handout]