Lufkin, TX: Lufkin man who allegedly shot, killed wife still believed to be in critical condition

Posted: Sunday, August 15, 2010 6:45 pm | Updated: 11:05 pm, Sun Aug 15, 2010.
By JESSICA COOLEY/The Lufkin Daily News
A Lufkin Police spokesman said Sunday he had not heard of any changes in the condition of an 86-year-old man shot by officers Friday after he allegedly shot his 78-year-old estranged wife, killing her.
Maurell McClendon was flown to East Texas Medical Center with at least two gun shot wounds following the Friday evening incident, according to Lufkin Police spokesman Det. JB Smith. He was reportedly in the ICU in critical condition as of Saturday morning.
Around 6 p.m. Friday, officers arrived on the scene to see Maurell McClendon in the yard of a home on the street, carrying a long gun believed to be a rifle or shotgun, Smith said. His estranged wife, Christine McClendon, 78, was lying on the ground wounded, Smith said. The two lived next door to each other.
The officers moved toward Maurell, commanding him to put down the weapon, but instead of complying he moved closer to the dying woman. Neighbors who witnessed the shooting told investigators that as officers approached, Maurell fired another shot at her as she lay on the ground. Officers then fired on Maurell, wounding him at least twice, Smith said. After Maurell was handcuffed, Lufkin Fire EMS was dispatched, Smith said.
Neighbors said soon after that, they witnessed a man being loaded into an ambulance by paramedics. About 20 minutes later, Christine was placed in an ambulance as medics worked to keep her alive.
Maurell was initially taken by ambulance to Memorial Health System of East Texas as was his alleged victim, Christine. Christine was pronounced dead at Memorial at 7:10 p.m. Friday.
Hospital spokeswoman Yana Ogltree said because of the number of in person inquiries on the two, the hospital was temporarily put on lock-down.
Normal operations resumed by Friday night.