Mooresville, NC: Family deaths ruled murder-suicide

By Steve Lyttle
slyttle@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009
The deaths of a husband and wife last month in Mooresville have been ruled a murder-suicide, the Iredell County Sheriff's Office says.

Capt. Darren Campbell of the sheriff's office said detectives have determined that Douglas Alan Thomas Sr., 57, shot and killed his wife, Linda, 57, and then turned the gun on himself. He also shot and wounded their two sons, Christian Edward Thomas, 25, and Douglas Alan Thomas Jr., 28. The sons were hospitalized but are recovering.

Campbell said detectives were able to talk with the two sons in the hospital and that their stories were consistent with evidence found at the scene. The shootings took place on Oct. 11 at the family's home on Peninsula Drive.

Detectives say they determined that Douglas Thomas Sr. shot one of his two sons in the living room, then shot his second son as he walked down the hallway. He then shot his wife and himself. Campbell said authorities were not able to determine what led to the shootings. Douglas Thomas Sr. lost his job at UNC Charlotte in August.