A little before 8 a.m. on quiet Sunday morning at a house in Millry, a small rural community of about 550 people in Washington County, Gary Sullivan knelt on one knee in his dining room and pointed a .308 rifle at a tall window that faced out to a white painted wraparound porch.

He pulled the trigger.

The bullet travelled just a few feet before passing through the screen window and then a wooden slat that formed part of a rocking chair on the porch. Sullivan's wife Mel Ann, who was sitting on the porch taking a call at the time, died immediately, according to Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer.

"She never knew what happened," said Stringer as he described events from the murder-suicide of the couple at the weekend. "I don't know what caused him to snap. I can't say what happened."

The only items with Mel Ann Sullivan at the time were a bible and an empty coffee cup.

The first shot alerted the Sullivan's two sons, Britton, 23, and Brae, 21, who began to make their way to the scene.

One of the sons was upstairs while another was in the family's hunting lodge outside, about 150 feet from the main home. One son told officers that he'd moved from the couch to the hunting house early that morning because his father was making loud noises in the family kitchen. Sheriff Stringer said the son wasn't sure what time he moved, but that the son suggested to his father that if he was up they should prepare to attend church earlier than normal.

By the time the sons made it to the downstairs part of the house, a second shot was heard coming from the couple's bedroom. Their father had attempted to kill himself with a shotgun. He failed, instead badly injuring his face. He attempted to reload, according to a statement given by the sons to deputies.

As the sons jostled with their father for the shotgun, covering themselves in blood in the process, another shot went off and hit the door. Between them, the sons managed to wrestle the gun away from Sullivan, while also finding another shotgun and the rifle that had killed their mother minutes earlier.

They secured the weapons in one of their parent's cars. By that time their father had made his way to the kitchen, evident, said Sheriff Stringer, by a trail of blood that showed Sullivan's movements around the house. Sullivan took a knife and walked out to the yard where he fatally wounded himself.



"That's where we found his body," said Sheriff Stringer, who said that Sullivan's death was a suicide.

Stringer said in an interview with AL.com at his office in Chatom that he had never seen anything like this in his 12 years as the Sheriff or in 40 years of law enforcement.

"I've seen a lot of things, deaths, suicides, but I've never seen one where the family had so much to lose," he said. "Good kids in college, wife with a good job, he was retired. I don't know, there was so much to lose. This had a different effect on me than most."

At this stage little is known about Sullivan's motivations. The previous day Sullivan had borrowed his uncle Buck's fertilizer tractor to treat his pasture. Afterwards he cleaned and returned it to his uncle. "He seemed fine," said Stringer, who added that the couple had gone to bed together and appeared happy. "Maybe something happened in the morning," he added.

Gary Sullivan, 54, was raised with his four brothers in Red Creek, a small community to the west of Millry. His entire family still lives in the area. He attended Millry High School, where he met Mel Ann, and later became a teacher and football coach at the school. His wife, 52, who was originally born in Anchorage, Alaska, was the Director of Economic Development for the county. Her Facebook page was full of pictures of annotated bible pages and comments about how she was an inspiration to people in the county.

"They were two of the nicest people you could hope to meet," said Curtis Kirkland Snr., whose son is the principal at Millry High School. "I watched Gary grow up. This wasn't in his nature."

"I know he was forced into retirement earlier than he wanted and maybe that had an effect on his mental health, but we'll never know what he was thinking," he added.



Millry High School officials were unavailable to explain why or when Sullivan retired.

Funeral services will be held at Sand Ridge Church of God, Millry, Thursday at 11 a.m.

Here are warning signs to watch for if you fear someone is suicidal and resources that can help those thinking of harming themselves or who fear a loved one might harm themselves.

WARNING SIGNS

Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself.

Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means.

Talking or writing about death, dying, ''ending the pain'' or suicide.

Feeling hopeless.

Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities - seemingly without thinking.

Feeling trapped - like there's no way out.

Increasing alcohol or drug use.

Withdrawing from friends, family, social support and society.

Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep or sleeping all the time.

Experiencing significant mood changes.

Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life.

Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge.

HOW TO HELP

Ask the person directly if he or she is having suicidal thoughts, has a plan to do so, and has access to lethal means.

If you think the person might harm him- or herself, do not leave the person alone.

Take seriously all suicide threats and all past suicide attempts, even if he or she minimizes your concerns.

Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.

Be willing to listen and be non-judgmental. Don't debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don't lecture on the value of life or whether suicide is viewed by some as a sinful, selfish or angry act. Respect that suicidal feelings are most likely related to ending emotional or psychological pain.

Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support. Take into account other trusted friends, family members or allies who can be a part of a supportive team.

Don't dare him or her to do it.

Don't act shocked. This may translate as criticism or judgment and weaken trust between you.

Don't be sworn to secrecy. Acknowledge that all suicidal risk is to be taken seriously and firmly and gently explain that you are seeking support.

Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance.

Take action. Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills.

Get help from persons or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

Resources in Alabama

Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition

Crisis Center, Inc. (Birmingham)

Crisis Services of North Alabama (Huntsville)

Lifelines/Family Counseling Center of Mobile

Sources: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and The Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition