CHESTERFIELD CO, Virginia — A Chesterfield, Virginia father shot and killed his wife, son and step-daughter before killing himself, police said.
According to WTVR, investigators identified the victims in Sunday’s triple-murder suicide as: Renotta Jernigan, age 30; Seth Jernigan, age two; Alexis Kellas, age nine. Barry Jernigan, 35, was also found dead inside the family’s home.
“At this point, the investigation indicates that Barry Jernigan shot his son, step-daughter and wife before turning the gun on himself,” police said.
Police responded to the family’s home just after 10 p.m. on Sunday to check the welfare of a subject, police said. Upon arrival, police heard multiple gunshots.
Friends of Renotta I. Jernigan told WTVR that she asked for a divorce eight days before the murder.
A lifelong friend of Renotta’s said she received text messages from Barry, who went by the name Chris. One said, “Hating her is the only way I can breathe on my own. I guess I can say is that I love to hate her and hate loving her.”
The friend said she warned Renotta about the texts.
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