Mary Ann Holder Shot Children, Relatives Before Killing Herself, Say N.C. Officials
Greensboro Woman Shoots Sons, Nieces, Nephews and Ex-Lover
A North Carolina woman, reportedly distraught over a failed affair with a married man, went on a shooting rampage Sunday, shooting six people before eventually turning the gun on herself. Five of the victims, two of them having since died, include her own family members.
Police in Greensboro, N.C., say Mary Ann Holder, 36, shot her two sons, 17-year-old Robert "Dylan" Smith and 14-year-old Zachary Lee Smith; her niece Hannaleigh Suttles, 8; her nephew Richard Brian Suttles, 17; and Smith's girlfriend, 15-year-old Makayla Leigh Woods. All of the children were shot in the head. Smith and Hannaleigh Suttles died; the remaining children were reportedly in critical condition.
Before targeting the kids gathered in her home, police say Holder had an encounter with former boyfriend Randall Lamb, 40. Holder reportedly shot the married man twice in the arm, which is when the deadly events began to unfold, reports WFMY News.
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Lamb's wife, Jennifer, reportedly informed authorities about his encounter with Holder sometime around 9 a.m., the new station reports.
It was about an hour later that Holder was spotted in her vehicle on Remora Road. A deputy noticed a "puff of smoke" when he moved to approach the mother of two, which is when Holder likely shot herself, according to officials. Her son, Zachary Smith, was in the backseat of the vehicle with gunshot would to his head.
Calling it one of the worst situations he has seen in his 30-year career, Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes said during a press briefing on the shootings, "This is the type of thing that you read about and hear about coming from California or New York or someplace like that. But it's right here."
Although Holder implied in two notes she left behind taking responsibility for the shootings that she was angry for being "wronged," Barnes said it was still not 100 percent certain what the woman's motives might have been.
"We may never know exactly what her thoughts were and why," said Barnes.
Holder reportedly had filed restraining orders against Lamb and his wife, while Mrs. Lamb also filed a restraining order against Holder. It was also reported that Lamb's wife was planning to file an alienation of affection claim, which means Holder could have potentially been held liable for having an affair with Lamb.
Two handguns were used in the shootings, according to the News & Record. The publication also reports that two other children said to live with Holder, Christina N. Smith and Shianne R. Suttles, were not at home at the time of the shooting.
