Apparent murder suicide occurs in Good Hope

By Patrick McCreless

GOOD HOPE — A man allegedly shot and killed a woman before he killed himself Saturday night in Good Hope.

Cullman County Sheriff’s investigators were still processing the scene around 11 p.m., several hours after the shooting occurred.

Sheriff Tyler Roden said the shooter and the victim, whose names are being withheld until their families are notified, both lived in a trailer park on Megan Lane. He said deputies received the call concerning the shooting at approximately 8:45 p.m.

“A man with a loaded shotgun walked across the street to his neighbor’s home and shot and killed his female neighbor as she walked out onto her front porch,” Roden said. “We think at least three shots were fired.”

As the wife’s husband made a 911 emergency call, Roden said the suspect turned around and walked back to his residence.

“A short time later as the man comes to the house, he goes to his backyard and we believe he shoots and kills himself,” Roden said.

Nobody else was injured during the incident.

Roden said investigators currently do not have a motive for the crime.

“We don’t want to speculate at this time why the man chose to do such a terrible thing,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to find out why.”

This marks Cullman County’s first reported murder in more than a year.

• Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.