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Three people found shot to death in Henry County...
The Henry Co. Sheriff's Office is investigating after three people were found shot to death inside a home on Wilhaven Lane. It appears to be a murder-suicide. Investigators say the house was also...AXTON — An Axton man shot his wife, sons and himself early Sunday morning, according to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. One son managed to escape after being shot twice, but his parents and brother are dead.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation has revealed that William Ronald Carter Sr., 56, of the 200 block of Wilhaven Lane, shot his wife, Bonnie Williams Carter, 56, and sons William Ronald Carter Jr., 29, and Timothy Carter, 22. Tim-othy escaped and was transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, where he is listed in fair condition.
According to Henry County deputies, William Carter Sr. called Timothy, a student at Radford University, to the home and “used trickery to lure him into the basement.” William Carter Sr. shot Timothy in the back with a firearm as he was going down the stairs and again as he tried to escape.
Deputies were called to the scene at 12:17 a.m. Sunday and found the house on fire. Deputies found William Carter Sr., Bonnie Carter and William Carter Jr. shot to death in the basement. A combination rifle/shotgun was recovered from the scene.
The Henry County Fire Marshal is investigating the fire, which authorities are considering as arson, according to the news release.
The Carter’s home is across from Deborah Akers’ house, where Timothy ran for help after he was shot.
“He said his dad was hunting him,” Akers said. “After he had gotten in the house and everything, he said his dad had shot and killed his mother and brother.”
As she treated his wounds at the back of his neck and lower back, she said Timothy said his father tricked him into coming home from college at Radford University.
“He said he didn’t know why his daddy did that,” Akers said. “That he had called him at Radford and told him he had to come home, that something was wrong with his brother, older brother. I said why’d his daddy trick him; he didn’t understand why.”
The Carters’ fellow church member Roosevelt Womack was just as confused.
“Last time I seen him he was happy,” Womack said. “I don’t know, just like we’re standing here talking. Of course strange things can happen.”
About a dozen friends and family gathered at the Carter home Sunday. They described the family and said William Carter Sr. recently retired from Goodyear.
“He was one that liked to work,” said Garland Grimes, a neighbor. “He had to take early retirement, and that kinda put the pressure on him there.”
View a video of the incident site at WSLS.com
• Contact Amos at or (434) 791-7983.
• WSLS 10 in Roanoke contributed to this report.
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Reader Reactions
This just goes to show you, no one knows what really goes on behind closed doors. I am very afaid we are to see more of this kind of tragedy along with more drug abuse, spousal abuse and animal abuse. Due to the failing economy and no jobs and people are feeling helpless and even worse, hopeless,,,,
I am just confused and shocked, along with everyone else at Goodyear who worked with Mr. Williams. He was one of the nicest men you would ever meet. He always had a smile on his face and was a hard worker. He nver cursed and never said anything negative about anyone…making his coworkers tease him at time. Most shocking was that he was a devout Christian. I pray that his family finds peace and comfort during this hard time and I pray that the surviving son finds his strength in Christ to get through the trauma that he had endured.
This story just does not pass the smell test for me. Sorry.
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