"I may not be a perfect man, but I'll always be a family man." says Louisiana Pastor After Shooting His Wife in Front of Their Children

In a deeply distressing incident, a pastor from Louisiana fatally shot his wife in the presence of their three children before turning the gun on himself inside a Mississippi hotel. 

The pastor, identified locally as Danny Prenell Jr., 25, held the position of lead pastor at the Bright Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Pineville, Louisiana. 

His wife, Gabby Prenell, 27, was tragically taken from this world. The couple's three children now face the aftermath of this devastating event.

A photograph shared on Facebook by Prenell from the Hampton Inn hotel, where the tragic shooting occurred, featured him alongside his wife and children, accompanied by a caption that read, "I may not be a perfect man, but I'll always be a family man."

The scene at the hotel, captured in a photograph published by The Enterprise-Journal, revealed bloodstained floors near the elevators in the lobby. 

The shooting unfolded around 3:30 p.m, and Investigators believe that Prenell shot his wife twice before turning the gun on himself.

Details regarding the condition of Prenell and his wife have not been provided by authorities. However, a friend of Gabby's shared a Facebook post stating that she was still fighting for her life in an intensive care unit.

Both individuals were swiftly transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Meanwhile, their children are now under the care of child protective services.

According to Prenell's Facebook page, he had served as a former sheriff's deputy with the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Department until as recently as December 2022.

On April 6, 2023, Prenell honored his wife on her birthday with a heartfelt message, referring to her as "my queen" and expressing his gratitude for her role as a mother, wife, and best friend. 

Prenell's Facebook posts often centered around personal growth and faith.

The tragic incident highlights the unfortunate reality of domestic shootings, which have become distressingly frequent across the country. 

According to a database compiled by multiple media organizations, there were 17 domestic shootings in 2022 alone, occurring approximately every 3.5 weeks. 

These incidents include murder-suicides and shootings, with the term "mass killing" defined as the slaying of four or more individuals, excluding the assailant.

Family mass killings, defined as the killing of four or more individuals by a family member, are the most prevalent form of mass killing, accounting for about 45% of the 415 mass shootings recorded since 2006. 

The motives behind such acts often involve financial or relationship issues.