Woman shot and killed in front of six children, police say

Posted: Oct 03, 2010 2:32 PM
Updated: Oct 04, 2010 3:34 PM

By Kay Johnson



CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating after they say a north Charlotte woman was killed in front of six children, before her shooter turned the gun on himself.

Officers were called to a home on the 2400 block of Anna Garrison Road around 1:04 a.m. Sunday morning to a report of two people shot.

Police said 39-year-old Barry Lynndell Leake shot and killed 31-year-old Rebecca Ann Robertson before turning the gun on himself. Robertson's three children and her sister's three children, all under the age of 12, were inside the home during the shooting, police say. Robertson's sister and another person were also there.

A neighbor told WBTV that she heard gunshots and screams and ran over to help. Her first thought was for the children.

"We really didn't know what was going on. We didn't know if he was going to come back out and start shooting," neighbor Lethia Thomas said.

Thomas took the children, all under the age of 12, inside her home and listened as they graphically described what they witnessed.

"It just goes to show you never know what's going on behind closed doors," said neighbor Natasha Richards.

Richards says the couple and children were always friendly.

Police records show that Leake and Robertson had been the subject of previous domestic violence investigations, although no charges were filed.

Investigators say after that previous call, Robertson said she would seek a warrant, but later advised officers that she'd moved out and wasn't going to seek a warrant.

"Domestic violence is not worth it. The kids are the ones who suffer. You are hurting two families," Thomas said.

Leake has a previous arrest on record with CMPD for gun and drug charges.

From: http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=13258992