Greenhill, AL: Man shoots wife, himself; one other man injured

A Greenhill man killed his estranged wife and shot another man several times before killing himself Monday morning, authorities said.

Sonja Faith Poss, 34, and her husband, Robert Jason Poss, 39, were found in the living room of her home at 6179 U.S. 43, according to Lauderdale County Sheriff Ronnie Willis.

He said both were shot once ­— Sonja Poss once in the head and Jason Poss in the left chest area. They were pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Andy High.

Another man — Mitchell Hopper, 36, East Lakeside Drive, Florence, who authorities said also was at the residence, was flown to Decatur General Hospital where he received treatment for multiple gunshot wounds.

Officials said Hopper was shot in the shoulder, elbow and in the hand.

They said Hopper is expected to recover from the wounds, adding he was alert and talking when they visited him in the hospital Monday morning.

The shooting occurred about 1:30 a.m. The residence is on U.S. 43, just north of Alabama 64.

Willis said investigators view the case as a murder-attempted murder-suicide.

“This was just a tragic situation,” Willis said. “It’s another situation of a domestic situation that turned bad.”

He said friends told authorities that the couple were in the process of divorcing.

Investigators said Jason Poss moved out of the house they shared and was living with a friend in Lexington.

Investigators said it appears Jason Poss parked his truck at the Midway Church parking lot and walked a short distance to his estranged wife’s house. The house is just north of the church.

Investigators were told that it appears Jason Poss went into the residence through the back door just before 1:30 a.m.. He then went to the bedroom where Sonja Poss and Hopper were and began shooting, authorities said.

Lead investigator Richard Richey said the shooting likely started in the bedroom and continued throughout the house as Hopper tried to escape.

Authorities said they believe Sonja Poss tried to escape by running out of the bedroom but she was stopped and shot in the living room by her husband. Jason Poss then shot himself, investigators said.

Willis said Sonja Poss’ 16-year-old son was at home in his bedroom and called 911 when the shooting began.

He added the boy ran out of the house and was not injured.

Investigators said Hopper also managed to run out of the house after being shot and later returned to get his cellphone and called 911 operators.

Richey said two handguns ­— a 9 mm and a .25-caliber — were found inside the residence. He said it appears that both weapons were used by Jason Poss.

Willis said neighbors reported that Jason Poss cut the grass at the residence late Sunday

afternoon.

“We don’t know what happened between the time (Jason Poss) left the residence and returned,” Willis said.

“Basically, he came in and caught her with another man, started shooting and then took his own life.

“It’s really a sad situation where there are no

winners.”

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.