Associated Press
THOMASVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- A former state investigator killed his ex-wife, their 9-year-old son, another man and himself, apparently out of jealousy, Davidson County authorities said.
The county sheriff’s office identified the gunman in Sunday’s attack as Tim Thayer, who previously worked as an agent with the State Bureau of Investigation and as a police officer in High Point.
Jealousy may have been a motive in the shootings, said Maj. Dallas Hedrick, the county’s acting sheriff.
Thayer had taken his son and 7-year-old daughter to the home of ex-wife Teresa Thayer on Sunday, and noticed a car in the driveway, Hedrick said. When Theresa Thayer said she had a visitor, Tim Thayer returned to his car, where his current wife was waiting.
He obtained a gun from the car and “he started shooting,” Hedrick said. He shot his ex-wife and then ran into the house.
One shot struck the Thayers’ son, Paul. Another bullet struck a man whose name was not released but who neighbors identified as Teresa Thayer’s boyfriend. Thayer then turned the gun on himself, Hedrick said.
The Thayers’ 7-year-old daughter, Kristy, and the girlfriend of their 19-year-old son, who is in the Army, escaped from the house unharmed. Thayer’s current wife also was uninjured.
Sheriff’s Capt. Chris Coble said restraining orders had been issued against Thayer in the past, but none was apparently in effect at the time of the shooting.