Pastor and Wife Gunned Down by Adopted Son Inside Home
The community of Hartselle, Alabama, is still reeling in shock after a beloved 43-year-old pastor and his wife were allegedly gunned down in cold blood inside their home last Thursday by their adopted son.
According to AL.com, Priceville police officers were called to the home of Pastor William Jeremy Hulsey, 43, and his 37-year-old wife, Sandra Hulsey, around 8:45 p.m. last Thursday, where they found the couple dead. William Hulsey, commonly known as Jeremy, was a preacher at Aldridge Grove Church of Christ in Moulton.
An investigation by the police quickly led to the couple's adopted son, Andrew Kyle Hulsey, 23, as a person of interest. They also found what they believe to be the murder weapon.
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According to FOX 10, the murder weapon was a 9 mm handgun and court documents revealed the pastor and his wife were shot multiple times.
Andrew was charged with capital murder and is being held at the Morgan County jail as investigators seek to establish a motive for the murders.
"I don't know hardly how to explain how I'm feeling. We were quite surprised," neighbor Freddie Lawrence told WAAY-TV. "I guess we're still trying to deal with the shock of hearing such tragedy happening to people that you know."
Lawrence said he and his wife have lived across the street from the Hulsey family for nearly five years and described them as quiet and friendly.
"Someone wiped out my mailbox out here yesterday and the son offered to help me put my mailbox back up," Lawrence said.
"I just don't understand how a young man can shoot someone unprovoked," he added, before calling on the community to come together.
"It's times like these that the community needs to come together and let the community know that they're being loved," Lawrence said.
Bob Liddell, a friend of the deceased couple, told AL.com that had known the pastor and his wife since they were young. He said they took Andrew in when he was about 5 or 6 years old. Andrew first lived with them as a foster child before they adopted him. The Hulsey's were unable to have children of their own, said Liddell.
"Jeremy and Sandra were good, godly people who sought only to help Andrew. I am heartbroken over their loss. They were such a lovely couple," he said.
A statement issued by the Midway Church of Christ remembered the couple as a godly duo.
"The tragic loss of Jeremy and Sandra Hulsey is on our hearts and minds this morning. Jeremy was the preacher for the Aldridge Grove Church. He had also preached at Dancy's Chapel and was an amazing man who was not afraid to stand for the cause of Christ. He and his wife have been such humble servants for the Lord. Please remember their family and the church in your prayers," it said.
Andrew now has a court appointed attorney and he is scheduled for a May 3 hearing, according to FOX 10.
A visitation will be held Friday, April 29 at the Marion County Funeral Home, with the funeral immediately following. The burial will be at the White House Church of Christ Cemetery in Alabama, according to WAAY-TV.
