Police: Veteran officer shot wife, then self

Police: Veteran officer shot wife, then self
CAROL ROBINSON, The Birmingham News
Published 11:50 a.m., Thursday, September 8, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Police detective Rodney Wilson and his wife of two years, Uteva, had their difficulties, but family members said they never expected those troubles to end in murder-suicide.

"I knew in the past they had problems and I told him and her that we all have financial worries," said Sharon Woods, Uteva Wilson's mother. "I talked to Rodney Saturday and he was concerned about things. I said, 'I have bills too. Do what you can, even if it's $1, and leave the rest to God.'"

"He always stressed that he loved her," Woods said Wednesday. "I never thought he would take her life."

Police said that's exactly what happened.

The 41-year-old detective apparently shot his 23-year-old wife and then got on his police radio and warned he was about to take his own life.

He told dispatchers he had killed his wife, but that the children were OK. He asked for paramedics and a supervisor to come to the scene, and then said, "I won't be here when you get here," authorities said.

Wilson, a nearly 11-year veteran of the Birmingham force who served in the burglary unit, used his service weapon in shooting, authorities said.