Murder suspect killed in shootout
RIDGELAND — A 42-year-old law instructor at the Mississippi College School of Law was murdered here along with her sister and mother over the weekend.
The brother who is the suspect in the weekend killing was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Arizona law enforcement on Monday.
The suspect has been identified as Ivory James Welch III, Ridgeland Police Chief Brian Myers said.
The victims have been identified as his mother, Ida Thomas Welch, 76, and her two daughters Vicky Renee Welch, 56 and Crystal Lynn Welch, 42.
Crystal Lynn Welch was the board president for the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi in addition to teaching at MC. She served on numerous professional and civil boards.
“It is with profound sadness that the Mississippi College and School of Law family mourns the passing of Crystal Welch, Associate Clinical Professor at the Mississippi College School of Law,” the school said in a statement. “The thoughts and prayers of our leadership, faculty, staff, and students are with Crystal’s family in this difficult time.”
An arrest warrant was obtained and the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force began searching for Welch on Sunday, May 12, Myers said.
“Welch managed to get to Arizona before being located by troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety,” Myers said. “Arizona State Troopers attempted to apprehend Welch and he fired upon the troopers and was fatally wounded in the gunfight.”
Ridgeland Police officers found the three women at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, Mother’s Day.
Myers said Officers responded to 7146 Old Canton Road after family members contacted Ridgeland PD regarding the welfare of the occupants at the home. Entry was made into the residence where it was discovered that the women had all been shot to death in the home.
The crime scene was processed with the assistance of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
“This investigation is a great example of how teamwork in law enforcement, as well as a great relationship with our media outlets, affords us swift justice for a grieving family,” Myers said in a statement. “This horrific event will have a lasting effect on this family, the officers involved in this investigation as well as our brothers in Arizona law enforcement.”
Myers went on to say, “Special thanks to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Other agencies may have been involved in this apprehension and officer-involved shooting. This is the information that we have available at this time.”