Man Shoots Four Family Members, Then Self

A 50-year-old man, Dennis Carter Sr. shot four family members then shot himself.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/06/louisiana.shootings/index.html

At around 10:40 on Saturday night in Holden, Louisiana, a 50-year-old man shot his estranged wife, there son, grandson, and their pregnant daughter-in-law, before taking his own life. Dennis' estranged wife, Donna Carter was shot and killed by her husband along with the couples son, Dennis Carter Jr. and their grandson, Mason Carter. Dennis Carter Sr. also shot and critically injured his daughter-in-law Amber Carter. Amber was flown to a Baton Rouge hospital for her injuries. A sixteen month old also in the house was unharmed.

Authorities believe that Amber Carter had attempted to escape with her 2-year-old son Mason, by jumping out of a second story window of the house. Unfortunately, Mason died of injuries suffered from the gunshot wound. Amber had several gunshot wounds. They believe that she was shot in the back as she tried to jump out the second story window. A neighbor told authorities that they had seen Dennis Sr. leaving the house carrying a gun. The police later seen the car matching the description of Dennis' and attempted to pull him over, but he fled and took an exit where he then held his gun to his head and took his own life.

This story is bewildering to me. How could a parent/grandparent even consider to take their child's life and their grandchild? This is hard for me to comprehend. I do not understand this man. I truly wish that he had not taken his own life that way he could of sat everyday and thought about the life's of his family that he took. But at the same time it is hard to not think that he got what he deserved. I do not know and no one ever will know what his wife and family did that was so wrong that he felt he needed to kill them. This story goes to show, with the many others, that protection orders do not really protect everyone from there tormentors.

I think that the only positive thing that came from this was that he did not harm the 16-month old baby. Even though that little child will have to grow up without his father, brother, and maybe his mother, but at least he was spared. I truly hope that Amber lives through this horrific ordeal and is able to care for her child she has left. Hopefully she will be able to live at least a halfway normal life. Although I do not begin to be able to comprehend the nightmares she will face for the rest of her life.