Joseph Aldridge, 36, the man who took his handgun and went on a door-to-door killing spree, takes eight lives, including his own. The small rural town Tyrone is now in tears after this unforeseen event.
Tyron is located approximately 160 miles southwest of St. Louis, close to the Mark Twain National Forest, an area popular among hunters, campers and river rafters. The community’s population is close to 50 people.
Scott Dill, superintendent of the Houston School district in Texas County said how everybody knew each other in Tyron and how they now all mourn for the seven losses.
All of the victims lived near one another. Authorities are still searching for the motive behind the killing spree. There are rumors stating that the killer’s decision was influenced by the passing of his mother who was found dead in her home. His mother allegedly died from natural causes. Police refused to comment in regards to the rumor.
The event began on Thursday Feb. 26 around 10 p.m. when a 911 call was made by a girl, who ran barefoot in her nightgown to her neighbor next door, crying that her parents were shot.
Police later found the parents’ bodies. Aldridge continued with the spree, killing five other people and wounding a woman, in three different houses.
Four of the victims’ identities were made public: Garold Aldridge, 52, his wife Julie Aldridge, 47, Harold Aldridge, 50 and his wife Janell Aldridge, 48. Although police did not give the name of the other victims, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch they are: Carey Shriver, his wife Valirea Shriver and Carey’s father Darrell Shriver. Darell’s wife Martha is the wounded survivor.
Police also found that the killer entered the homes without the need to force doors. This event has clearly brought the level of safety in Tyrone to zero. County Sheriff James Sigman made it clear that from now on, people needed to lock their doors: “Start locking your doors. The world is changing. You got to be safe.”
Authorities found Joseph Aldridge’s body in a pickup truck parked on a highway near Shannon County.
The event took people even more by surprise as the Aldridge family, including Joseph, was known as good, helping people.
Image Source: Fox 31