May 13, 1:30 p.m. UPDATE:
According to Ridgeland Police Chief Brian Myers, the son of one of the victims was identified as the suspect. He was identified as a suspect on Sunday, but to protect the investigation, this information was not publicly released.
Ivory James Welch III, the son of Ida Welch, was determined to be the suspect in the death of all three victims.
An arrest warrant was obtained and the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force began searching for Welch. Chief Myers said that Welch managed to get to Arizona before being located by Troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Arizona State Troopers attempted to apprehend Welch and he fired upon the Troopers and was fatally wounded in the gunfight.
Chief Myers stated,
“This investigation is a great example of how teamwork in law enforcement, as well as a great relationship with our media outlets, affords us swift justice for a grieving family. This horrific event will have a lasting effect on this family, the officers involved in this investigation as well as our brothers in Arizona law enforcement. Special thanks to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Other agencies may have been involved in this apprehension and officer-involved shooting.”
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May 13, 11:00 a.m. UPDATE:
The identities of three people found murdered at 7146 Old Canton Road have been identified as 76-year-old Ida Thomas Welch, 56-year-old Vicky Renee Welch, and 42-year-old Crystal Lynn Welch. They were all shot to death.
MBI assisted with processing the crime scene.
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Ridgeland Police Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are on a scene on Old Canton Road not far from the intersection of Rice Road probing a triple homicide.
Details are very scarce, but Police Chief Brian Myers said three people were fatally shot. The call came in around 3:30 p.m. The victims were from the same family, he said, but won’t be immediately identified.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.
