KY magistrate stabbed his wife and then fatally shot himself www.privateofficer.com

 

 

MANCHESTER, Ky. April 27 2012 — Police in eastern Kentucky say a county magistrate stabbed and wounded his wife and then fatally shot himself.
Hazard media reported Clay County Magistrate James Lyttle (LIT’-ul) used a large kitchen knife to stab his wife Wednesday morning. The station said Lyttle then went into a shed and shot himself. Sharon Lyttle was in serious condition late Wednesday after surgery at University of Kentucky Hospital.

Manchester Police Chief Chris Fultz said the violence was unexpected.

In addition to serving as a magistrate, James Lyttle owned a tobacco shop and worked for the local school board.

He and his wife have two teenage sons.

Clay County Judge-Executive Joe Asher said Lyttle was well-liked in the community.

“Everyone in our community thought the world of ‘Jimbo,’” Asher said. “We had some people talk to him as late as yesterday afternoon, and everything seemed to be well.”

Neighbor Gilbert Spurlock also said there wasn’t any hint of problems between the couple.

“I thought they were happy all the time. Happy and smiling, being nice to people,” Spurlock said.

Police say the first officer at the scene met Lyttle in the driveway. The magistrate said his wife had fallen and while the officer went to check on her, he heard a gunshot from the shed.

Source: WTW