71-year-old Saraland dies following murder-suicide in Miss.

Published 4:08 pm Wednesday, May 23, 2007

A 71-year-old Saraland woman died at the University of South Alabama Medical Center after she was shot in a murder-suicide in Lucedale, Miss., authorities said.

Cleta McCleod died Monday after she was shot in the head at close range with a .410-gauge shotgun Saturday afternoon. The George County, Miss., Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday the shooting happened outside a Lucedale home during a domestic dispute with 80-year-old Glen W. Cooley, the Mobile Press-Register reported Tuesday on its Web site.

A statement from the sheriff’s department said Cooley then left the home and drove to a nearby relative’s house, where he fatally shot himself with the same shotgun.

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McCleod was airlifted to the USA Medical Center, where she died, the statement said.

A Sheriff’s Department dispatcher said McCleod and Cooley were romantically involved and lived together at the home where the dispute took place, the Press-Register reported.

An investigation into the cause of the argument continued Tuesday.