Son charged with killing mother, sisters
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - February 29, 2008 Anthony Tyrone Terrell Jr. was charged with murder in the
shooting deaths at the family home near Lawrenceville, where the
bodies were found late Thursday, said police spokeswoman Illana
Spellman. She identified the victims as Gwinnett County Sheriff's
Deputy Joy Deleston, 39, and her two daughters, Micaiah, 11, and
Jelani, 4.
The motive for the killings was still under investigation,
Spellman said.
Deleston, a seven-year veteran of the department, was assigned
to the Sex Offender unit, officials said.
Police had gone to the subdivision because a caller reported
shots had been fired, officer David Schiralli said earlier. They
found a bullet hole in a house, then checked next door because they
knew a deputy lived there.
"There was no answer, but lights were on," Schiralli said.
"They opened the door a little bit to announce themselves." That
was when they discovered the bodies, he said.
The 17-year-old son arrived at the house about 35 minutes later,
he said. Spellman said he was arrested after talking to
investigators, but didn't elaborate.