A Mississippi man suspected in the deaths of his mother and two sisters was killed in a gunfight with Arizona state troopers, authorities revealed. The incident marked a grim end to a pursuit that spanned hundreds of miles from the crime scene in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
Ivory James Welch III was identified by the Ridgeland Police Department as the primary suspect in the deaths before fleeing the state. His journey ended in Arizona on Monday, May 13, where an exchange of gunfire with state troopers led to his death.
The discovery of the triple homicide was reported to Ridgeland Police around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 12, according to Police Chief Brian Myers. The victims, found at a home on Old Canton Road, were identified as 76-year-old Ida Thomas Welch, 56-year-old Vicky Renee Welch, and 42-year-old Crystal Lynn Welch. They were found after family members requested a welfare check.
Chief Myers expressed his sentiments about the impact of the events: “This horrific event will have a lasting effect on this family, the officers involved in this investigation as well as our brothers in Arizona law enforcement.”
Following the identification of Welch as the suspect, the Ridgeland Police Department collaborated with the U.S. Marshals Task Force to locate him. Welch’s vehicle was tracked and he was eventually found by the Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers in an area between Morenci and Clifton, with help from officers of the Greenlee County Sheriff’s Office and the Clifton Police Department.
The attempt to arrest Welch led to a gunfight. “Arizona State Troopers attempted to take Welch into custody when he fired upon them, resulting in his death,” Myers said.
Myers praised the cooperation between law enforcement agencies, attributing the swift action to teamwork and strong media relations, securing “swift justice for a grieving family.”
The ACLU of Mississippi released a statement acknowledging Crystal Welch’s role as Board President since 2023. “Crystal was a significant leader and friend to the ACLU of Mississippi,” said Jarvis Dortch, ACLU Mississippi Executive Director. “Her passion and dedication to equality and justice profoundly impacted our team. We offer our deepest condolences to her family,” the statement concluded.
Colendula Green, a friend of Crystal Welch, remembered her as an exceptional person passionate about her work and life.
The motives behind the shootings remain unclear, with Chief Myers saying, “He may have been upset about a funeral and his birthday which was on Friday.”
On Monday, Chief Myers disclosed that Welch’s history was marked by troubled incidents.
He mentioned that back in 2006, their department dealt with Welch concerning an incident of domestic violence involving a relative. In 2012, Welch was again in contact with the department due to an accusation of assault.
