A Mississippi gun manufacturer and his wife were fatally shot by a relative during a dispute over land, and then the shooter apparently took his own life after barricading himself in a bathroom, according to authorities.
Walter Ernest Birdsong Jr., 62, and Amanda Lynn Birdsong, 43, were killed by Kurt Birdsong, 56, inside their Florence home on Friday afternoon.
The incident escalated from a nearly decade-long conflict where Kurt alleged he had been denied land promised to him by their deceased father.
Armed with multiple firearms, Kurt entered Walter and Amanda’s residence and began firing. He later barricaded himself in the bathroom, where he was found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a three-hour standoff.
A caller who alerted the police noted that the shooter had not fled the scene. Officers arrived at the Birdsong residence within eight minutes, attempting to convince Kurt to surrender, but efforts from hostage negotiators ultimately failed.
Walter was the son of the founder of WE Birdsong & Associates, a firearms business. Given the family’s background, Rankin County Sheriff Brian Bailey sought assistance from the bomb squad, expressing concerns about potentially explosive materials at the property.
After officers breached the front door and removed the bathroom door, they discovered Kurt deceased inside. The ongoing familial conflict had reportedly plagued their relationships for at least seven years.
Kurt insisted that 14 acres of land had been transferred to another party without his approval back in 2019. Court documents revealed that he believed his father had promised him a contract, but a judge ruled this was not valid due to the absence of written documentation.
Following this ruling, Kurt’s behavior reportedly became increasingly erratic, with neighbors noting disturbances, like shouting at night. Interestingly, Amanda was often seen attempting to mediate the family disagreements.
One neighbor remarked, “She was always trying to get everyone to sit down and talk.”
The family expressed their deep sorrow, stating they were “heartbroken beyond words.” They urged respect for their grief as they mourned Walter, Amanda, and even Kurt, emphasizing that despite his actions, he remained family. The land dispute had, sadly, driven them apart.
Investigators are now looking into Kurt’s cell phone for details concerning the shooting.
