Monday, August 1, 2011
Domestic Shooting Claims Two, Injures One
A former Lawrence County resident and his estranged wife perished at a home in neighboring Greenhill, Alabama in the early hours Monday, and a second man sustained multiple gunshot wounds, in what police are calling a murder/attempted murder/suicide.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Ronnie Willis reported that around 1:30 a.m. deputies responded to the scene of a shooting at 6179 U.S. Highway 43 in Greenhill, just north of the Alabama Highway 64 intersection.
They found that Robert Jason Poss, age 39, and wife Sonja Faith Poss, age 32, were dead at the scene. A second man, Mitch Hopkins, 36 of Florence had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Officials said that Jason Poss had moved out of the home a few months prior but had cut the grass their late Sunday afternoon.
Investigators determined that Poss parked his truck at nearby Midway Church walked to the home, then through the back door. They say he went to the bedroom where Sonja Poss and Hopper were and opened fire upon them. They said that the couple ran, and that Jason Poss pursued them, continuing to shoot.
Hopper was able to escape the house after sustaining wounds to the shoulder, elbow and hand. Both Jason and Sonja Poss were found dead in the living room. Sonja had sustained a single gunshot wound to the head, and Jason a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Detectives reported that Sonja Poss’ son, age 16, was at home at the time of the shooting. He was able to run outside and sustained no injuries.
After returning to the home to retrieve his cell phone, Hopper placed a 911 call for help.
Officers found two handguns at the scene. They said it appears Jason Poss fired both the 9mm and .25 caliber weapons.
Hopper was airlifted from the scene to Decatur General Hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery.
Jason Poss is survived locally by mother Cheryl Poss and maternal grandmother Ann Perry.
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