In a tragic event that unfolded on a Thursday evening in Jackson County, Mississippi, Bjorn Stephen “BJ” Griswold, a 36-year-old male, lost his life in a domestic violence-related murder-suicide. The incident, which occurred at his home on Oak View Circle in the Latimer community, also claimed the lives of three other family members.
Authorities identified the shooter as BJ's father, 64-year-old Thomas 'Tom' Griswold.
On the evening of the incident, deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the residence around 7:30 p.m. after receiving a 911 call about shots being fired. As law enforcement arrived at the scene, they heard a final gunshot, which they believe was Tom Griswold taking his own life.
Inside the home, deputies discovered the bodies of BJ Griswold, his mother and Tom Griswold's estranged wife, 64-year-old Veronica Griswold, and BJ's ex-wife, 39-year-old Jillian Pavolini. All four individuals had died from gunshot wounds. The investigation led authorities to conclude that Tom Griswold shot and killed his estranged wife, his son, and his son's ex-wife before turning the gun on himself.
The motive for the tragic killings has not been publicly released by investigators. The case was investigated as a murder-suicide, with Thomas Griswold being the sole suspect. As he died at the scene, there were no arrests to be made in connection with the four deaths.
