Son accused of killing parents had criminal past

ELLERBE, N.C.,None — A husband and wife were shot and killed in their Richmond County home, and the sheriff said their son pulled the trigger.

Richmond County Sheriff James Clemmons said deputies found the bodies of Edwin Arthur Richardson, 69, and his wife, Margaret Richardson, 69, after receiving a 911 call just before 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Officials would not say who made the call, but Clemmons said deputies arrested the couple's son, 44-year-old Edwin Anthony Richardson, inside the house in Ellerbe.

"We just feel so bad about this," family friend Jimmy Sellers said. "It's heartbreaking."

Sellers said he was just up the road when he saw the deputies' cards race by toward 140 Richardson Road.

"Everybody just kind of knows everybody and this is going to impact a lot of people," he said.

SLIDESHOW: Man, wife found dead in Ellerbe

Deputies and SBI agents surrounded the house and marked it with police tape.

"These are very fine people," Sheriff Clemmons said. "It's such a senseless act. They are very well known in this community, outstanding church folks. They're people that would give you the shirt off their backs."

When asked why deputies believe Richardson would have done something so violent, Clemmons said Richardson has not made any comments or statements indicating a reason.

"There is no motive that we can speak of at this particular time," he said.

In June 2011, Richardson was charged with assault by pointing a gun. His father took out that arrest warrant.

The case was later dismissed, although the Richmond County District Attorney's office refused to reveal why.

"He had some problems in the past and they had tried to help him deal with them, but obviously something went wrong," Sellers said of Richardson. "I don't know what. We just hate it for the family."

Richardson is facing two counts of first-degree murder.

The family of the victims declined to comment.

WSOC