Teenage son one of many witnesses in murder, attempted suicide

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County police spent hours Monday gathering evidence at the scene of what they are calling a murder and attempted suicide.

Channel 2’s Tony Thomas spoke with several neighbors who said the Kelly family was always quiet, with no signs of trouble.

But a friend of the Kellys said trouble had been brewing for a long time and it finally exploded Monday morning.

It's usually quiet enough in the River Stone subdivision between Lawrenceville and Snellville to hear the chirping birds. So neighbors said repeated arguing would stand out.

But police said that after at least two 911 calls this weekend about arguments in the home, officers responded to a third call Monday morning to find Melissa Kelly, 45, and her husband Alton, 53, both critically wounded.

“This was a domestic-related incident,” Gwinnett County police Cpl. Michele Pihera told Thomas. “We believe the man shot the female. After he shot her, he shot himself.”

Authorities said Melissa Kelly died a short time after she was found. Alton Kelly remains in critical condition.

The couple’s teenage son and several other people were in the home at the time of the shooting.

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Police interviewed them and took swabs for gun residue.

“I've been told by the responding officers that we have hand a few domestic-related incidents over the past few days where our officers have responded out to this location," Pihera said.

Records show that none of the calls for help resulted in any charges. Family members left the scene, still visibly shaken.

Detectives said charges could be coming if Alton Kelly survives his injuries.

Cox Media Group