Authorities in Baldwin County, Alabama, are investigating a devastating case that left four members of the same family dead inside their Daphne home. Officials believe the incident was a murder-suicide carried out by the father, though the investigation remains ongoing.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Four people, including two children, discovered dead in Daphne, Alabama

• Authorities suspect father Kenneth Smith Jr., 44, fatally shot his family

• Victims identified as wife Larrica, 41, son Kristian, 14, and daughter Kensley, 11

• Sheriff suggests possible domestic conflict may have escalated

• Church and community members express shock and grief

• Family lived in Daphne for more than 20 years; vigil held at their home

Capt. Daniel Steelman of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in an email to USA TODAY on Aug. 17 that investigators believe Kenneth Smith Jr., 44, shot his wife, Larrica Gaines Smith, 41, along with their two children, Kristian, 14, and Kensley, 11, before taking his own life.

Sheriff Anthony Lowery, speaking at a news conference broadcast by Mobile Fox affiliate WALA, described the tragedy in stark terms.

“It’s as tragic as it comes,” Lowery said.

The Sheriff’s Office stated that deputies had responded to the family’s home on Aug. 14 after a welfare call. Inside, they found all four victims dead from what were described as “apparent gunshot wounds.”

Lowery suggested that the shooting may have stemmed from a private family dispute.

“There seems like there might have been some kind of domestic issue that might have escalated to this,” he said.

The shockwaves from the deaths quickly spread beyond law enforcement. Local church leaders and residents have expressed deep grief as they try to comprehend the loss.

City Hope Church, where the Smith family had been active members, issued a statement on Aug. 14.

“This has shaken us deeply, affecting countless people within our church and our community,” said Pastor Trey Taylor.

WKRG reported that the Smiths had lived in the Daphne community for more than 20 years. The couple had recently marked their wedding anniversary, just two weeks before the fatal shooting. On Aug. 15, community members gathered outside the home for a candlelight vigil to honor the family.

Those who knew Larrica Gaines Smith remembered her as a gentle and kind woman. Sue Lyon, her former boss at a local real-estate brokerage, recalled her quiet nature.

“You never think something like that would happen to them because she was so quiet and polite,” Lyon told Fox affiliate WALA.

Neighbors also struggled to process the loss. Matt Russell, who lived nearby, described the family as well-loved and down-to-earth.

“Salt of the earth,” Russell said in an interview with WKRG.
“A fun-loving family. It is just a very, very tragic feeling. To say I’m in shock, yes, I’m still in shock.”

The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case. Officials have not released further details about what may have led to the deadly incident.

The investigation into the suspected murder-suicide remains active as authorities work to determine what may have led to the tragedy. For now, the small community of Daphne is left mourning the sudden loss of a family described as kind, devoted, and deeply rooted in the area. The incident has underscored how quickly domestic issues can spiral into devastating consequences, leaving behind unanswered questions and a community struggling to heal.

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