Man murders wife, daughter and son before committing suicide on Fathers Day

Alexis, Renotta, Seth,  ( inset-Barry Jernigan)

A 35-year-old man, Barry Jernigan fatally shot his wife and two kids before killing himself Sunday evening, according to police report.

Police were first alerted to the family’s home after Barry’s boss called to report that Barry had left him a message “that sounded threatening and possibly suicidal in nature.” Officers heard gunshots as they approached the home, but it was already too late.

Barry’s wife, 30-year-old Renotta Jernigan, and stepdaughter, 9-year-old Alexis Kellas, had both collapsed in the front yard after being shot. Neighbors who’d heard the gunfire were providing first aid to the victims, but Renotta would die on the scene while Alexis would die later at the hospital.

Inside the home, police would find 2-year-old Seth Jernigan had been shot to death as he lay in his crib. As for Barry, he was also found in the home, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. “At this point, the investigation indicates that Barry Jernigan shot his son, stepdaughter and wife before turning the gun on himself,” police said in a statement.

Neighbors say they all pitched in that night in an attempt to save the family. One neighbor, a nurse, pulled Seth from his crib and attempted to perform CPR on the floor before police and rescuers arrived. Another neighbor described seeing Barry dead in a hallway and performing CPR on Renotta.

No word on a motive, but some are commenting that Renotta wanted a divorce. Barry’s father is shocked at his son’s actions, stating he knew that his son had struggled financially for years, but had never conveyed he was in any kind of distress.

Culled from Dreamindemon