In the late hours of a Monday night in August 2016, a domestic dispute in a Stone Mountain, Georgia home tragically escalated, resulting in the death of 35-year-old Shayla Sullivan. A paralegal and mother, Sullivan was fatally shot by her husband, Clifford Elston, in what authorities would later describe as a murder-suicide.
Earlier that evening, Sullivan had contacted the DeKalb County police, expressing concern that her husband was not taking his medication for bipolar disorder and was making threats to harm himself. By the time officers arrived at their Wetherborn Place residence, the situation appeared to have de-escalated. Sullivan, her mother, and Elston himself assured the police that everything was under control and that Elston would be leaving for the night. The officers observed him driving away before they departed.
However, approximately an hour later, Elston returned to the home. He rammed his truck into a car in the driveway and then opened fire on Sullivan and her mother, who were outside. Sullivan was struck in the back as she tried to flee into the house. Her mother was shot in the foot but managed to get away and call for help. The couple's two sons were in the basement of the home at the time of the shooting but were not physically injured.
When police responded to the second 911 call, they found a grim scene in the garage. Shayla Sullivan was deceased, and Clifford Elston was found on top of her with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the forehead. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation concluded that Elston had shot and killed his wife before taking his own life.
