Deputies: Two Found Dead In Murder-Suicide Outside Of Union County Home
The Latest:
A GoFundMe has been started for the family of a Waxhaw woman tragically killed in a domestic dispute on Sunday.
Queen City Ear Nose and Throat, Erica Thomas’ employer, started the fundraiser to help support her two young children, who have lost both of their parents.
Original Story (3/7/22):
UNION COUNTY, N.C. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a man and woman were found fatally shot outside a Waxhaw home Sunday evening.
Deputies responded to the home, located on Collins Road, around 6 p.m. after receiving an armed subject/domestic disturbance call for service. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found 38-year-old Erica Thomas dead in the driveway of the home due to apparent gunshot wounds.
According to authorities, 41-year-old Joshua Laney was also located in the driveway still alive, but badly injured, from a single gunshot wound.
Deputies secured the scene and administered lifesaving efforts to Laney. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, officials said.
Through an initial investigation, the sheriff’s office determined that Laney and Thomas were formerly married.
The incident began as a verbal domestic disturbance at the home between Thomas and Laney, investigators determined. During the confrontation, Laney presented a rifle, shot and killed Thomas, and then shot himself, according to a news release.
At the time of the incident, an active Domestic Violence Protection Order was in place against Laney and all known firearms in his possession had been seized by the sheriff’s office. Investigators are working to determine the source of the weapon used during this incident and any motives for murder/suicide.
Anyone with information pertaining to this incident is encouraged to call the UCSO at (704)283-3789.
