Latest news with #LarricaGainesSmith
The Sun
21 hours ago
- The Sun
‘Fun-loving' family of four found dead in their home as cops confirm chilling reason they were called
A FAMILY of four was discovered dead inside their home after deputies were called for a welfare check. Officers forced their way into the residence on August 14 after relatives raised concerns. 3 3 3 Investigators later confirmed the case was a suspected murder-suicide involving the parents and their two children. The horror unfolded in Daphne, Alabama, a suburban city on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, about 20 miles from the port city of Mobile. The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office confirmed all four victims died from gunshot wounds inside the suburban home, Fox local affiliate WALA reported. Authorities said Kenneth Smith Jr, 44, is suspected of shooting his wife, Larrica Gaines Smith, 41, and their children, Kristian, 15, and Kensley, 11, before turning the gun on himself. Smith's relatives were concerned about a possible domestic violence incident or suicide. Inside, they found the parents and children dead. 'It's as tragic as it comes,' Sheriff Anthony Lowery said during a news conference. Captain Daniel Steelman told USA TODAY the investigation is ongoing, but pointed to a suspected murder-suicide. 'There seems like there might have been some kind of domestic issue that might have escalated to this," Lowery added. He said the hardest part is that investigators may never know exactly what triggered the violence. Hunt for killer after woman 'murdered' outside care home in early hours attack Pastor Trey Taylor of City Hope Church said the news shocked the congregation. 'This has shaken us deeply, affecting countless people within our church and our community,' he said. The church shared on Facebook, 'Our church mourns the tragic loss of The Smiths alongside their relatives and community." Neighbors said the family had lived in the community for more than 20 years. 'They were salt of the earth, a fun-loving family,' Matt Russell told CBS local affiliate WKRG. 'It is just a very, very tragic feeling. To say I'm in shock, yes, I'm still in shock.' A vigil was held outside the Smith home on August 15 as friends and residents gathered to remember the victims. Just two weeks earlier, the couple had celebrated their wedding anniversary. Larrica once worked as a real estate agent at EXIT Realty Lyon in Fairhope before leaving in 2018. 'She was so sweet, she was very quiet,' said Sue Lyon, her former boss. 'You never think something like that would happen to them because she was so quiet and polite.' Lyon said she still can't comprehend the tragedy: 'I couldn't believe something like this could happen.' Friends remembered Larrica as a loyal companion and devoted mother. 'Larrica was one of the first friends I met when I moved to Birmingham,' Danielle Johnson wrote in a post. 'She was a bridesmaid in my wedding, hosted my first baby shower, and was always one call away," Johnson continued. 'I was so excited when she finally got pregnant and was able to have kids. My heart is broken. Rest in heaven with your precious babies sweet friend.' Kristian and Kensley were both students in the Daphne public school system. Sheriff Lowery said forensic work continues, but with the suspected shooter also dead, many answers may never come.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Alabama father kills wife and kids in suspected murder-suicide
An Alabama town has been rocked by a murder-suicide that police describe 'as tragic as it comes'. A family of four, including two children, were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds in their home on Thursday morning, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office. Investigators believe Larrica Gaines Smith, 41, and her two kids, Khristian Smith, 15, and Kinsley Smith, 11, were shot dead by her husband, 44-year-old Kenneth O'Neil Smith Jr before he turned the gun on himself. Officers arrived at the scene in Daphne, located across the bay from Mobile, after they received a 'welfare concern' call from a family member. Sheriff Anthony Lowery said the children's cell phones were ringing as authorities investigated the scene. He said: 'You know that was their friends. I've been doing this for 29 years. It's only the second time I've had to work a case where the whole family has been killed. 'It looks like some type of domestic issue that escalated into this. It's as tragic as it comes.' Police identified Kenneth as the shooter using forensic and circumstantial evidence found at the scene, including a recovered handgun. Lowery added: 'We will absolutely work this like any other homicide investigation. There is no reason to believe anything happened anywhere else but inside the house The neighbors are really hurting. This is a quiet neighborhood. They are proud of where they live here.' He added: 'We may never get all of the answers because there won't be a suspect to interview or anything along those lines so we'll have to use our forensic techniques as best we can to piece it back together and we'll rely on [that] information. 'We'll talk to friends and family and coworkers and all those things to try and find out as much as we can.' Crisis response teams have been made available at Daphne High School and Daphne East Elementary School, where the children attended. Neighbor Shannon Brannon told the local news that she is in shock and described the Smiths' as 'just the nicest, sweetest family', adding: 'Their kids were so sweet. They babysat my daughter. Just good people. 'She just told me they celebrated their wedding anniversary two weeks ago and was happy about it, so I just don't understand. I don't understand how this could happen.' Larrica's former colleague Sue Lyon, owner of Exit Realty Lyon, said: 'You'd just kind of imagine it would be a certain type of family that would happen to and you'd never think something like that would happen to them because she was always so quiet and polite and everything, but I mean…it's horrible.' Larrica stopped working at the agency is 2018, but Lyon said she was a talented realtor and unforgettable. 'She was so sweet, she was very quiet,' Lyon added. 'She was the kind of person that you just thought, man she's gonna work so great in real estate.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Alabama town rocked by horror family-of-four killed in suspected murder-suicide
An Alabama town has been rocked by the murder-suicide of a family of four that police describe 'as tragic as it comes'. The family of four, including two children, were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds in their home on Thursday morning, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office. Investigators believe Larrica Gaines Smith, 41, and her two kids, Khristian Smith, 15, and Kinsley Smith, 11, were shot dead by her husband, 44-year-old Kenneth O'Neil Smith Jr. Officers arrived at the scene in Daphne, located across the bay from Mobile, in the early morning hours after they received a 'welfare concern' call from a family member. Sheriff Anthony Lowery said the children's cell phones were ringing as authorities investigated the scene, reported 'You know that was their friends,' Lowery said. 'I've been doing this for 29 years. It's only the second time I've had to work a case where the whole family has been killed. 'It looks like some type of domestic issue that escalated into this. It's as tragic as it comes.' Police identified Kenneth as the shooter using forensic and circumstantial evidence found at the scene, including a recovered handgun, according to WALA. 'We will absolutely work this like any other homicide investigation. There is no reason to believe anything happened anywhere else but inside the house,' Lowery said. 'The neighbors are really hurting. This is a quiet neighborhood. They are proud of where they live here.' The sheriff said his department will continue to investigate the crime, but believes it stemmed from a 'domestic issue.' 'We may never get all of the answers because there won't be a suspect to interview or anything along those lines so we'll have to use our forensic techniques as best we can to piece it back together and we'll rely on [that] information,' he said. 'We'll talk to friends and family and coworkers and all those things to try and find out as much as we can.' Crisis response teams have been made available at Daphne High School and Daphne East Elementary School, where the children attended. Neighbor Shannon Brannon told the local news that she is in shock and described the Smiths' as 'just the nicest, sweetest family'. 'Their kids were so sweet. They babysat my daughter. Just good people. She just told me they celebrated their wedding anniversary two weeks ago and was happy about it, so I just don't understand. I don't understand how this could happen,' she said. Larrica worked as a realtor and her former colleague Sue Lyon, owner of Exit Realty Lyon, told the outlet she was stunned by the news. 'You'd just kind of imagine it would be a certain type of family that would happen to and you'd never think something like that would happen to them because she was always so quiet and polite and everything, but I mean…it's horrible,' Lyon said. Larrica stopped working at the agency is 2018, but Lyon said she was a talented realtor and unforgettable. 'She was so sweet, she was very quiet,' she said. 'She was the kind of person that you just thought, man she's gonna work so great in real estate.'
