A Patrick Springs man is in custody on Monday after allegedly shooting and killing his wife, according to Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith.
At 3:51 p.m., Bennie Lee King, of 1271 Stella Road, called the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office 911 Communications Center and told the operator that he had just shot and killed his wife.
Smith, Maj. Rob Coleman and Sgt. Mike Harris were the first to arrive on scene at the Stella Road home. According to the sheriff, King exited the front of the residence armed with a handgun.
King was allegedly pointing the gun at his head saying that he “wanted to die,” according to Smith.
After a tense standoff, King complied with sheriff’s office commands to drop his weapon and was taken into custody without further incident.
Alexis King, 64, was found deceased on the front porch of the residence.
“I have known both of these families for decades, this is a heartbreaking event in our community and has caught us completely off guard,” Smith said in a Tuesday release.
King has been charged with first degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The Virginia State Police, Commonwealth’s Attorney Dayna Bobbitt and staff, and Patrick County Emergency Management assisted at the scene.
The investigation is ongoing and King is being held without bond.
Anyone with information regarding this incident can confidentially contact Lt. Steve Austin at (276) 692-5950.
