BEEN DEVELOPING RAPIDLY TODAY... THIS TRAGEDY HAS BEEN UNFOLDING FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS AFTER THE THREE WOMEN WERE FOUND SHOT TO DEATH IN A RIDGELAND HOUSE ON MOTHER'S DAY. A MISSISSIPPI FAMILY TORN APART BY VIOLENCE. FOUR MEMBERS GUNNED DOWN IN A MATTER OF DAYS. ACCORDING TO RIDGELAND POLICE IVORY WELCH III WAS IDENTIFIED AS A SUSPECT IN A SHOOTING THAT KILLED HIS MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS. WELCH WENT ON THE RUN TO ARIZONA AFTER THE SHOOTING AT A HOUSE ON OLD CANTON ROAD. WHEN ARIZONA STATE TROOPERS TRIED TO CAPTURE WELCH MONDAY THEY SAY HE SHOT AT THE TROOPERS AND WAS FATALLY WOUNDED IN THE GUNFIGHT. SOT-1 1:16-1:17 <THIS HITS REALLY CLOSE TO HOME.> THE INVESTIGATION STARTED ON MOTHER'S DAY AFTER POLICE FORCED THEIR WAY IN THE HOUSE. ONCE INSIDE THEY FOUND THE THREE WOMEN ALL SHOT TO DEATH. 76 YEAR OLD IDA WELCH, RENEE WELCH 56 YEAR OLD AND ALONG WITH 42 YEAR OLD CRYSTAL WELCH. WELCH WAS AN ATTORNEY WHO TOUCHED SO MANY LIVES OLD AND YOUNG. JOHN HALL/MAGNOLIA BAR SOT-1 32-41 <"I'VE KNOWN CRYSTAL SINCE SHE WAS IN LAW SCHOOL. AND IT'S THE SAME PERSON EVERY TIME YOU SAW HER. SHE'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHEN YOU SEE HER YOU JUST FELT BETTER AFTER LEAVING HER."> JOHN HALL IS INCOMING PRESIDENT OF THE MAGNOLIA BAR, A GROUP OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LAWYERS. 3:17-3:22 <SHE UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF BEING AN AFRICAN- AMERICAN LAWYER. AND A LOT OF TIMES IT'S A THANKLESS JOB.> WELCH WAS BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE ACLU OF MISSISSIPPI. AND SHE WORKED AS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE SCHOOL OF LAW WHERE ONE OF HER LAST EVENTS WAS GRADUATION THIS PAST FRIDAY. 1:45-1:53 <FOR THAT TO BE ONE OF THE LAST THINGS SHE DID SPEAKS VOLUMES BECAUSE THAT LAW SCHOOL WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HER AS SHE WAS TO IT.> WELCH'S FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES SAY HER BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION WILL BE HER COMMITMENT TO HELPING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN ADOPTION CASES. SOT-1 50-1:01 <AS FAR AS ADOPTIONS IN MISSISSIPPI. SHE WAS A PILLAR OF THAT TYPE OF WORK. HELPED MAKE HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES BETTER BY DOING ADOPTIONS.> SOT-2 2:35-2:44 WILLIE JONES/WOMEN FOR PROGRESS <I'VE GOTTEN SO MANY CALLS FROM MEMBERS WHO KNEW HER WHO WORKED WITH HER. SHE HAD SUCH A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE WITH EVERYTHING THAT SHE DID.> POLICE HAVE NOT SAID WHAT WAS BEHIND THE SHOOTING. WE'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY PEOPLE HEARTBROKEN AND SHOCKED AT CRYSTAL WELCH'S DEATH. EXPERTS SAY IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO PROCESS WHAT'S HAPPENED SEEK OUT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN HELP YOU GET THROUGH THIS
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Man suspected of killing his mother, sisters in Ridgeland is dead after gunfight with Arizona troopers
One of the victims was an associate clinical professor at Mississippi College School of law
Investigative Reporter
The son of a woman who was killed along with her two daughters in Ridgeland died Monday during a gunfight with Arizona State troopers.Ridgeland Police Chief Brian Myers said Ivory James Welch III was identified as a suspect in the shooting that killed his mother and sisters, but his name wasn't immediately released. Welch went on the run to Arizona after the shooting, according to the chief."An arrest warrant was obtained and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force began searching for Welch," Myers said in a news release. "Arizona State Troopers attempted to apprehend Welch and he fired upon the troopers and was fatally wounded in the gunfight." The investigation began around 3:30 p.m. Sunday when Ridgeland police officers responded to a home on the 7100 block of Old Canton Road.Myers identified the victims as Ida Thomas Welch, 76, Vicky Renee Welch, 56, and Crystal Lynn Welch, 42. Crystal Welch, who worked as an associate clinical professor at Mississippi College School of Law and served as the board president of the ACLU of Mississippi, was an attorney who touched so many lives, young and old. "I've known Crystal since she was in law school," said John Hall. "It's the same person every time you saw her. She's one of those people, when you see her, you just felt better after leaving her."Hall is incoming president of the Magnolia Bar, a group of African-American lawyers."She understood the value of being an African-American lawyer, and a lot of times, it's a thankless job," Hall said.Crystal Welch's friends and colleagues said her biggest contribution will be her commitment to helping families and children in adoption cases."I've gotten so many calls from members who knew her, who worked with her," said Willie Jones, with Women for Progress. "She had such a commitment to excellence with everything that she did." A motive for the shooting has not been released.
RIDGELAND, Miss. —
The son of a woman who was killed along with her two daughters in Ridgeland died Monday during a gunfight with Arizona State troopers.
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Ridgeland Police Chief Brian Myers said Ivory James Welch III was identified as a suspect in the shooting that killed his mother and sisters, but his name wasn't immediately released. Welch went on the run to Arizona after the shooting, according to the chief.
"An arrest warrant was obtained and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force began searching for Welch," Myers said in a news release. "Arizona State Troopers attempted to apprehend Welch and he fired upon the troopers and was fatally wounded in the gunfight."
The investigation began around 3:30 p.m. Sunday when Ridgeland police officers responded to a home on the 7100 block of Old Canton Road.
Welch Family
Myers identified the victims as Ida Thomas Welch, 76, Vicky Renee Welch, 56, and Crystal Lynn Welch, 42.
Crystal Welch, who worked as an associate clinical professor at Mississippi College School of Law and served as the board president of the ACLU of Mississippi, was an attorney who touched so many lives, young and old.
"I've known Crystal since she was in law school," said John Hall. "It's the same person every time you saw her. She's one of those people, when you see her, you just felt better after leaving her."
Ridgeland PD/WAPT
Hall is incoming president of the Magnolia Bar, a group of African-American lawyers.
"She understood the value of being an African-American lawyer, and a lot of times, it's a thankless job," Hall said.
Crystal Welch's friends and colleagues said her biggest contribution will be her commitment to helping families and children in adoption cases.
"I've gotten so many calls from members who knew her, who worked with her," said Willie Jones, with Women for Progress. "She had such a commitment to excellence with everything that she did."
A motive for the shooting has not been released.
