Alex C. Caton is believed to have killed his 21-year-old wife, Michelle Caton, and then himself in an apparent murder-suicide in the 500 block of Country Drive in Lawson, Missouri, Wednesday night.
Caton, 23, also is believed to have shot and wounded his father-in-law, Dale Banning. An 18-month-old child was left unharmed.
Lawson Chief of Police Brian Lafavor tells The Pitch that police found Banning, shot once, lying in the street around 10 p.m. Neighbors told police that they heard Banning saying, "My son-in-law shot me, call 911 and take care of my grandchild."
Inside the home, police found the bodies of Alex and Michelle Caton, both fatally shot.
"We
knew shots came from the residence," Lafavor says. "We didn't know that
we weren't going to find anybody alive in the home."
Police
believe the an issue over child custody may have preceded the killings.
Earlier that night, police responded to a call concerning child
custody, but the disturbance was "cleared" and "everything seemed OK"
and "everyone was cordial," Lafavor says.
"Little did you know," he adds. "We never had any problems out of them before."
Lafavor says police are still waiting on autopsy reports, but so far
evidence points to Alex Caton being the suspect in the murder-suicide.
Banning was airlifted to a local hospital and is now in "very stable condition," Lafavor says.
Police say Alex Caton served in the military, but they didn't have any additional details of his service.
This
incident marks the first homicide in Lawson in 2010, and the city's
first homicide since 2001. Lawson is a community of about 2,500 people.
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I live two houses down from that murder, I was there at my house when it happened, it was the most terrifying thing that ever happenned, I was only ten years old at that time. Michelle was the nicest person I knew. I wish I could've gotten to know her even more. And kaylee, I personally agree with you, but the murder wasn't pre meditated, he was shooting through a bathroom door to scare her and one of the bullets hit her in the head, that's why he killed himself, because when he opened the door and found her dead, he wouldn't be able to live with himself. What really happened though at the murder was he went to talk to her, but her dad Dale wouldn't let him in because he saw the gun so Dale took Alex out to talk to him and alex shot him on his left side. Then Alex went inside to scare her and killed her and then killed himself. Dale and Max ( the son) are alive and very healthy, Dale still has nerve damage but he's still able to walk normally and everything. And Max is the cutest toddler I've ever seen, Max doesn't remember a thing. I saw when they took max out of the house and the only thing he was was was mesmerized by all the lights!!!
Memorial contributions can be made to the Maxwell Caton Memorial Fund c/o Lawson Bank,401 N. Pennsylvania, Lawson, Missouri, 64062.
Maxwell is the Caton's surviving child
Erin, If Alex doesn't deserve a military funeral, then that would mean his son doesn't deserve military benifits, and I disagree with that.
Yes, he killed his wife, and I do believe it was pre meditated, however, he did serve his country, and for that, he deserves a military funeral.
We must remember that the Banning and Caton families need our support, and prayers, the Caton's too have lost a son, and they have to try to come to terms with what their son did.
Please don't judge Alex, NO One knows what was going through his mind, and he obviously wasn't in his right mind to do what he did.
He fought in the war, and I am sorry, but you can't send them boys over them, train them to kill, and send them home and expect them to live a normal life.
The Caton family, as well as the Banning family need prayers, NO, I don't agree with what Alex did, but only God can judge him.
But remember he is a Son, a Father, a Friend to someone too.
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