Mississippi state House candidate kills wife, self after being served divorce papers, police say

JACKSON, Miss. - Authorities say a candidate for the Mississippi state Legislature entered a medical clinic and shot his wife before shooting himself.

Marshall County Sheriff Kenny Dickerson said that Carl Robinson entered Williams Medical Clinic in Potts Camp, Mississippi, and shot LaToya Thompson before fatally shooting himself around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

"Witnesses reported seeing Robinson stomping outside the clinic before going inside the clinic. A .38-caliber hammerless Smith and Wesson pistol was found at the scene of the shooting," Dickerson told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

Thompson died while waiting for a helicopter to transport her to a hospital, the Daily Journal reported. There were no other reports of injuries.

According to Dickerson, divorce papers had been served on Tuesday and the two were fighting over custody of their 3-year-old son, Carl Robinson Jr, WATN-TV reports.

Robinson, 43, was a Democratic candidate for the Mississippi Legislature who worked for the Commission on Aging in Oxford. Thompson, 34, was a receptionist at the Williams Medical Clinic in Potts Camp.

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"He was a good person who enjoyed life. To the public's eye, him and LaToya did not have any issues," said Kimberly Robinson, Carl Robinson's sister.

She said Wednesday that she never expected anything like this to happen.

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What happened is sending shock waves through the Lamar community, where the couple lived.

Calls were made Wednesday morning to the clinic but were not answered.

Robinson was running for a District 5 House seat that includes parts of Benton, Marshall, Lafayette and Tate counties. He was on the ballot for the Aug. 6 primary election.

Tina Bills Herrington, a cousin of Robinson, said that he was the ultimate family man and that Thompson was a very kind person.

"He was a great provider for his family, making sure that they didn't go without," Herrington said.

"LaToya was very calm spirited and wanted to serve her family."

Robinson worked several jobs before returning home to make an impact in his community. When he moved from Los Angeles, where he was working as an operations compliance officer at Metrolink — a commuter rail system in Southern California — to Ashland, Mississippi, he established his first business, The Brooks Firm.

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Robinson established the nonprofit to help combat employment, technological and health issues faced by impoverished communities.

"He wanted to meet the needs of his community," Herrington said.

Aside from working, Thompson was known for her vocal ability, singing gospel music in different churches.

Herrington said both families remain close and are well-respected in their community.

Follow Wilton Jackson on Twitter: @WiltonReports

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi House candidate kills wife, self, police say