Couple identified from Saturday’s murder-suicide

Published 11:04 am Monday, June 20, 2016

Warren County authorities have identified the husband and wife found dead in their home from an apparent murder-suicide.

Sheriff Martin Pace said deputies responding to an 8:40 pm. call of two people being shot found Edward Vaughn, 46, and Surrenda Davis, 35, dead in their home 200 block of Lakeside Drive. He said both people were suffering from gunshot wounds to the head.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene by deputy Warren County Coroner Kelda Bailess. The bodies were taken to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for autopsies. Pace said a small caliber handgun was recovered at the scene.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

Davis was a seventh-grade science teacher at the Vicksburg Warren School District’s Academy of Innovation, Vicksburg Warren Superintendent Chad Shealy said.

“We were shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic death of Vicksburg Warren School District employee Surrenda Davis Vaughn,” Shealy said in a written statement issued Monday morning.

“We join the Academy of Innovation’s student body and staff and all VWSD employees in mourning her loss. We also extend our prayers and sincere condolences to her family.”

Pace said the deaths remain under investigation, but are being treated at this time as a murder-suicide, pending results from the state crime lab.

“It appeared Surrenda Davis was a homicide victim and Vaughn was a suicide victim,” he said.

Pace said the couple apparently had some ongoing domestic problems, but would not go into detail. He said Davis and Vaughn were married, but she kept her maiden name.

“They had four children living in the house ranging in age from 2 to 17 years old,” he said. “No one was at home at the time of the shootings.”

“I went to school with her,” neighbor Seychan Lewis said. “I didn’t want to see this.”

Lewis said he was sleeping at the time of the incident and didn’t hear anything, but he felt very shaken up by the crime. Lewis said one of the Davis’ sons found them in the home.

“I hate this for her kids,” he said.

Vicksburg Deputy Fire Chief Craig Danczyk said he lives in the next neighborhood over from Lakeside Drive.

“This is a peaceful area,” Danczyk said. “This is not something you typically see here.”

 

 

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

email author More by John