NC man allegedly kills pregnant girlfriend, children
VIDEO - A pregnant mother and two of her children are dead after the woman's boyfriend -- and father of the children -- allegedly shot them all and turned the gun on himself...
Saddened and Shocked.
That’s how Austen Blake Minter’s family members describe their emotions Monday in a two-paragraph statement.
Police say the 25-year-old Minter killed his girlfriend — and the mother of his children, Tracy Hedgepath, who was three months pregnant, plus there 3 and 6 year old children, each with single gunshot wounds to the head before killing himself during a domestic argument.
“We cannot attempt to explain or understand how or why Austen became so disconnected with reality that he was able to harm those he loved most,” Minter’s family said.
“We are extremely sorry for the pain and grief presently gripping the Hedgepath family and know that only time will heal a wound so deep. Two families have been affected by an unthinkable, horrific act of violence.”
Police say Minter also shot his 7-year-old daughter Destiny in the head. She survived.
“We believe that she will be a survivor and will one day become a beautiful woman who will remember only the positive attributes of her father and mother,” Minter’s family said.
In the 911 call you can hear Destiny in the background describing who shot everyone, as her grandfather pleads for help.
“Please ma’am. There’s three. My daughter, my grandchild ma’am and….(my daddy did it.) Her daddy did it, please,” Destiny’s grandfather said.
Friends say Hedgepath told them she feared for her life.
“She always told them he was going to kill her one day. And he did, he did,” a friend of Hedgepath said.
Court records show Minter had a history of mental illness and numerous violent episodes with his family over the past few years.
