Ridgeland, MS: Two dead in domestic murder-suicide in Ridgeland office parking lot

RIDGELAND - A Pearl man shot his estranged wife and then turned a high-powered rifle on himself in the parking lot of her workplace Friday morning, the authorities said. The woman died about three hours later at a Jackson hospital.The gunman was identified as Billy Willard, 52, of Pearl who shot his wife, Stefanie Willard, 44, also of Pearl in a murder-suicide, said Lt. John Neal of the Ridgeland Police Department.Billy Willard was pronounced dead at the scene in the shooting just before noon, Neal said.Stefanie Willard was transported to University Medical Center by ambulance where she was pronounced dead Friday afternoon.The incident stemmed from a dispute, Neal said.The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Exam One office at 996 Northpark Drive in Ridgeland.Billy Willard arrived at his estranged wife's office about 11:30 a.m., according to the initial investigation.Upon seeing him in the parking lot, Stefanie Willard went to meet her husband.Billy Willard produced a high-powered rifle and fired multiple rounds at her and she was struck several times, though the exact number of times remains unknown, police said.Billy Willard turned the rifle on himself and fired a single round.