Ridgeland, Mississippi – A man sought in connection with the death of his mother and two sisters in Ridgeland was killed in a shootout with state troopers in Arizona, authorities revealed on Monday.
The bodies of the three women, identified as Ida Thomas Welch, Vicky Renee Welch, and Crystal Lynn Welch, were discovered at their home on Mother’s Day. Police believe the shootings occurred on Saturday and were only found after concerned family members requested a welfare check.
Ida Welch’s son, Ivory James Welch III, was named as the primary suspect in the case. After fleeing the state, he was located in Arizona by state troopers, who engaged in a fatal gunfight with him when he opened fire on them.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety confirmed the trooper-involved shooting in Greenlee County, near the New Mexico state line, but further details were yet to be released.
The motivations behind the shootings were not immediately clear, and the ACLU of Mississippi expressed deep sadness over the loss of Crystal Welch, who served as the president of the organization’s board of directors. Her dedication to equality and justice was hailed by the executive director, Jarvis Dortch.
The tragic incident has left the community in shock, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the triple shooting. The swift actions by law enforcement in different states highlight the collaborative efforts to bring justice in such cases.