Police have released the identities of the three people who died in a suspected double murder-suicide outside a Walmart store in Tallassee.
Tresea Miller, 58, and her 75-year-old mother, Barbara Buttles, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene, Tallassee police said. Police identified the suspected shooter as 65-year-old Harold Miller, the husband of Tresea Miller.
Police said Harold Miller is believed to have fatally shot himself after gunning down his wife and mother-in-law.
Officers were dispatched to Walmart at 2190 Gilmer Avenue to investigate a shooting around 10:15 a.m., Tallassee Chief Matthew Higgins said. Officers found two crashed vehicles in the parking lot near the garden center, then saw Harold Miller's body. The women were found inside one of the crashed vehicles, police said.
Mayor Johnny Hammock said the shooter crashed a car into another vehicle before he opened fire in the parking lot.
"Preliminary investigation has determined that there was a previous history of domestic incidents between the family members and at this time the case is being ruled a Murder/Suicide," the police chief said in a news release.
Tallapoosa county court records show Tresea Miller filed a protection from abuse order against her husband, Harold, on Monday.
The order says the couple has been married for 43 years, but says they have a pending divorce. She also claimed in the order that Harold threatened to kill their son, verbally abused her and threatened to set her house on fire.
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation is assisting local authorities, Capt. Joe Herman said in an email to AL.com. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also is investigating, said spokesman Michael Knight. Knight said ATF's Crime Gun Intelligence team is tracing the firearm from today's killings and suicide to determine whether it has been used in other crimes. He said agents will trace the gun to previous owners to see if any criminal charges could be levied.
Tallassee, a town with fewer than 5,000 residents, is about 30 miles east of Montgomery.
"Keep Tallassee in your thoughts and prayers," Mayor Hammock said. "It's a tragedy. It doesn't matter how big or small your town is, tragedy can happen."
Updated at 3:27 p.m. with the identities of the suspected shooter and victims. AL.com journalist Anna Beahm contributed to this report.