Some of the eight victims shot early Friday morning in southern Missouri, and the man who shot them, have been identified.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that 36-year-old Joseph Jesse Aldridge, apparently killed seven individuals and injured another at multiple residences in Tyrone, Missouri before fleeing and killing himself on February 26, 2015. Aldridge, who was found dead inside his vehicle in nearby Shannon County, is a cousin of the victims. Photo provided by Missouri State Highway Patrol/UPI
The Highway Patrol says 36-year-old Joseph Jesse Aldridge was the man who fatally shot seven people and wounded one in and around his hometown of Tyrone, before killing himself. He was found dead in a vehicle in neighboring Shannon County.
Authorities also found Aldridge’s mother, 74-year-old Alice L. Aldridge, dead. She appears to have died of natural causes, and one possibility police are investigating was that he came home and found her dead before going on the killing spree.
Four of the victims were cousins of Aldridge. Some of them have been identified as 52-year-old Gerald Dee Aldridge and his wife 47-year-old Julie Ann Aldridge, and 50-year-old Harold Wayne Aldridge and his wife 48-year-old Janell Arlisa Aldridge.
Authorities are still trying to notify relatives of the other victims, but say they were not from the same family. None of the victims were children.
Investigators are talking to the woman who was shot but is expected to survive.