Randolph County, AL: Husband kills wife, then himself on Thanksgiving

Posted: Nov 27, 2009 10:19 PM EST

By Lindsey Connell - bio | email | Twitter

RANDOLPH COUNTY, AL (WTVM) - A tragic Thanksgiving in East Alabama, as police investigate a murder-suicide.

Randolph County Sheriff Jeff Fuller tells WTVM, 28-year-old Tracy Ward shot his wife Thursday around noon, outside a house on County Road 7- that's in the Swagg Community, near Wedowee.

Other family members inside the home called 911 but Sheriff Fuller says Ward, armed with a rifle, kept medics from treating his wife.

Then, when deputies showed up, they say Ward shot and killed himself.

His wife was pronounced dead at the hospital. Her name has not been released yet, while officials contact her next of kin.

Tracy Ward and his wife leave behind two children, ages 3 and 5.

As for the murder-suicide, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation is now investigating, along with the Randolph County Sheriff's Department.