Man accused of fatally shooting wife, 2 others indicted

CARROLLTON, Miss. (AP) – A Mississippi man who shot and killed his wife and two other people at her birthday party earlier this year after she tried to stop him from driving drunk has been indicted on charges of capital murder and aggravated assault.

The Greenwood Commonwealth reports a grand jury handed up indictments Tuesday against Michael Barnhill.

The victims were 39-year-old Brooks Hooker Harrell, her husband, 44-year-old Jim Harrell; and 27-year-old Marlee Jones Barnhill, the suspect’s wife.

Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker says the Barnhills had been invited to the Harrells’ home to celebrate Marlee Barnhill’s birthday. Walker says Barnhill became drunk during the course of the evening, then angry when the others discouraged his drunkenness.

Walker says Barnhill then went to his truck, returned with a .40-caliber pistol and shot the victims.