Update: 2-28-15 2:28 p.m.:
The Texas County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday afternoon released the names of the remaining three victims in the Thursday evening shooting spree that killed 8, including the gunman.
Carey Dean Shriver, 46, and Valirea Love Shriver, 44, were husband and wife. Carey’s father, Darrell Dean Shriver, 68, was also killed. A surviving victim, a 67-year-old female from Tyrone, continues her recover, according to a news release. Her name was not given and no additional details were provided.
On Friday, KSMU briefly spoke with Steve Shriver, who said that three of the deceased were his cousins, as well as the injured female. In this largely rural area of south central Missouri, Shriver was scrambling just to feed the livestock of his dead family members.
Texas County Sheriff James Sigman told reporters Friday that his team will continue to interview other family and citizens in the region as they attempt to identify a motive for the killings.
Orinigal story below:
Authorities in south central Missouri allege that 36-year-old Joseph Jesse Aldridge shot and killed seven people, injured another, and then killed himself in a Thursday evening shooting spree.
Texas County Sheriff James Sigman named four of the victims in a Friday afternoon press conference, all of whom he believes are cousins of Aldridge. A fifth person named, 74-year-old Alice L. Aldridge – the shooter’s mother – is said to have died of natural causes inside the home in which she and her son lived. An autopsy is planned. Three people remain unidentified, including a woman who survived and is said to be in serious condition at a hospital. They are said to range in age from early 40s to mid-60s, and are not part of the Aldridge family, according to the sheriff’s office.
The deaceased are Garold Dee Aldridge, 52, and Julie Ann Aldridge, 47, who were married; as were Harold Wayne Aldridge, 50, and Janell Arlisa Aldrige, 48.
“My office received a call about 10:15 p.m. last night from a juvenile female of shots being fired at in the Tyrone area. My deputies responded upon arrival at the Tyrone address and found two deceased victims,” Sheriff Sigman said.
A second call indicated another shooting had occurred a few miles away, where one deceased and one injured person were located. Authorities then began to search the region for other victims. All told, Sigman says there were three scenes with two bodies, two scenes with one body, and the scene of the suspect.
Joseph Aldridge was said to be found deceased around 5:30 a.m. Friday inside his idling pickup truck along Highway WW in a neighboring county. He had a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Sigman says Aldridge has a “minor” criminal history. He did not recall anything major listed on the suspect’s record.
Tyrone is a community of about 50 people, Sigman says. He says the Aldridge family makes up a good number of its citizens, but declined to offer a percentage.
Steve Shriver says three of the deceased are his cousins, and he and others were attempting Friday morning to locate and feed the cattle on land that his relatives would typically be working.
“I’ve been on the phone all morning. I can’t get off the phone. We’ve trying to get people together to help feed these cows. Try to figure out – They’re my cousins and I know where most of their cattle are at but I don’t know where all of ‘em is at,” Shriver said.
No other suspect is believed to be involved. The Texas County Sheriff’s Department says it’s still seeking a motive in the, and will be questioning additional family and neighbors. Sigman says he has “no idea” whether the Aldridge’s mother’s death may have sparked the shooting spree.
“This investigation; we’re still early in it. We’ll get at the information we can when we can,” said Sigman.
Sigman says it’s been roughly a year and a half since the last homicide in the county.
Authorities said it was doubtful they’d be able to release the other victims’ names today.
Texas County is fairly large, Sigman says, but consists of many small and mostly safe communities. In closing Friday’s news conference, he offered these melancholy words.
“Start locking your doors. The world’s changing. You gotta be safe.”
Follow Scott Harvey on Twitter: @scottksmu