Caldwell County Sheriff’s office: shooting is a murder, attempted suicide

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s office is investigating a murder and attempted suicide in Lenoir after a woman was found dead and a man injured from gunshot wounds, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office responded to a report of gunshots at 1630 Wheeler Hollow Place a little after 8 a.m. Tuesday morning, the office said. Officers discovered the body of Heidi Hamilton, 26, in a white Ford truck in the driveway. Next to the truck, Edward Price Jr. was found wounded.

The sheriff’s office said it was treating the matter as murder and attempted suicide and the incident appears to be a domestic dispute. Price was airlifted to Mission Memorial Hospital and is in critical condition, according to the sheriff’s office.

“The events of today were a tragedy for many. We offer our sincere condolences and continue to pray to everyone affected by this tragedy,” Sheriff Alan Jones said in a statement.

Price’s cousin, Ira Edwards, told WBTV, the Observer’s news partner, that Price was released from Frye Regional Medical Center Monday.

"He was hearing voices," said Edwards. "He needed help."

Edwards says the incident is very hard on the family. The couple had a young son who was not present at the time of the shooting.

"They were pretty good together for a while," said Edwards. "Then something happened. We tried to get him some help.”

This story was originally published August 25, 2015 at 4:30 PM with the headline "Caldwell County Sheriff’s office: shooting is a murder, attempted suicide."