WINONA, MS (1010 WINS) -- A Mississippi man is accused of shooting his wife to death at her birthday party, because she tried to stop him from driving drunk.
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Michael Barnhill, 30, faces murder and attempted murder in connection with the incident.
Witnesses say Marlee Jones Barnhill would not turn over the keys to the couple's truck at a party the night before her 27th birthday. That's when authorities say Barnhill got a gun out of the truck, slapped a cigarette out of his wife's hand, shot her in the chest, and turned the gun on the party's hosts, 44-year-old Jim Harrell, and 39-year-old Brooks Harrell.
"These were all good friends having a nice time together," Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker said in a statement. "Michael Barnhill, however, became drunk and belligerent during the course of the evening. The others discouraged his drunkenness, and he became angry and combative."
Walker said Barnhill's wife was trying to the right thing.
"Marlee was trying to do the right thing to protect his life and the lives of other drivers," Walker said.
Barnhil left the home, but returned while cops were on the scene and acted like he didn't know what happened, Walker said. Police say witnesses pointed him out at the shooter, and he was arrested after a brief struggle.
Marlee Barnhill died at the scene, as did Jim Harrell. Brooks Harrell died as she was being taken to the hospital.
