A Georgia father has been accused of killing his parents and his teenage son in a triple homicide.
Junior Thomas Babcock, 42, was taken into custody in Chatham County on Friday and charged with three counts of murder in connection with the shooting deaths of his parents, Connie and Daniel Babcock, and his 14-year-old son, LJ Babcock, inside their home, Savannah Morning News reports.
Police say they were dispatched to the home at around 9am, and when they arrived, officers found three people dead inside from apparent gunshot wounds.
A motive for the shooting remains unclear, as family members demand answers.
‘We’ve lost two special people and not counting little junior, the son,’ Redgie Oglesby, the nephew of victims Connie and Daniel Babcock, told WTOC.
‘We just really want answers.’
He went on to say, ‘You couldn’t meet a better woman’ than Connie Babcock
‘I know where she’s at, she’s in heaven and Daniel Babcock is the same way.’
Family members have described the couple as God-fearing Christians who adopted Junior Thomas as a baby and raised him as their own.
‘Daniel and Connie Babcock’s greatest desire was to honor the Lord by loving their family and helping others,’ Leon McBride, their son-in-law, told WSAV.
‘LJ Babcock loved to be outdoors. Fishing was his greatest passion,’ McBride continued, speaking of his nephew.
‘His smile was infectious. The lives of his friends, family and schoolmates will forever be changed by his presence and now by his absence.’
McBride said the family will now ‘honor their love by living as they did. Loving their family and helping others to the best of our ability.
‘Daniel and Connie Babcock loved all seven of their children and was committed to their care until the very end,’ he noted.
The Georgia Church of God of Prophecy also wrote on social media that it is ‘brokenhearted’ by the loss of Daniel and Connie, as well as their grandson.
‘We have no words to truly express our deepest heartfelt condolences,’ it said.
‘Those nearest and dearest to this family are aware of the extent of their love for Jesus, their value to the cause of Christ and their generosity/kindness to all.
‘Pastor Mark has expressed what a treasure this family has been to him, their church family and their community.’
An investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and family members say they expect to hear more from police in the coming days.
In the meantime, LJ’s older sister, Paige Collins, is raising money for his funeral expenses.
She noted in the GoFundMe that he was set to turn 15 next month.
‘He loved fishing, gaming and making people smile. He was loved by everyone and loved to make everyone laugh,’ she said.
Collins then spoke out about the crime.
‘We are all heartbroken by how sudden and unexpected this was,’ she said.
‘He was just a teenager, and didn’t deserve this.’
