Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew told West Kentucky Star that Bobby Mercer, the owner of Indoor Comfort and Heating on Highway 79 North, had entered the business through a back door shortly before 9:00 am and proceeded to the front of the building.
Mercer saw his estranged wife, Amanda Mercer, just outside the front door of the business and shot her multiple times, fatally wounding her. Sheriff Belew said Mercer then went back into the business where he saw an employee, Cindy Townsend, calling 911, and he also shot and killed her.
When law enforcement arrived at the business, they set up a perimeter around the scene. Negotiations began as it was not known at the time that Townsend was deceased, and it was thought there was an active hostage situation.
After many hours of negotiations, shortly before 6:30 pm, it became clear that Townsend was deceased and with the assistance of the Paris Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and FBI, the Henry County Sheriff's personnel entered the building and found that Bobby Mercer was deceased from a self inflicted gunshot wound.
Sheriff Belew thanked all the agencies that helped with the day long incident and expressed deep sorrow for the families of all the victims. He said this was a very tragic and sad day for Henry County.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Henry County authorities say they are working an active shooter situation near Paris Landing.
The Henry County Sheriff's Office says a section of Highway 79 North has been blocked off, and multiple law enforcement personnel are on scene.
Multiple media outlets are reporting that law enforcement is negotiating with the individual, and this has been in progress for several hours.
The sheriff's office is asking people to stay away from the area near Indoor Comfort Heating and Cooling.
The sheriff's office did not release any other information.
.jpg)
