On February 12, 2017, the Horn Lake, Mississippi community was shaken by the violent death of 57-year-old Black / African American resident Gale Hall Verner. The incident occurred at a residence on Cool Springs Drive. Law enforcement and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene following reports of a shooting, discovering a tragic domestic situation that had escalated into lethal violence.
The events unfolded shortly after Gale Verner and her 17-year-old daughter, Mya Verner,
returned home from a concert at the Landers Center. As they arrived, they were ambushed by Gale's ex-husband, Marvin Verner. Reports indicate that Marvin Verner opened fire on both his ex-wife and his daughter. Gale Verner sustained fatal gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts to save her.
Mya Verner, attempting to flee the violence and seek assistance, was shot in the back by her father. Authorities found the teenager covered in blood but alive; she was urgently transported to Regional Medical Center in critical condition. Medical personnel worked to treat her severe injuries, and the community later rallied around her recovery, offering support as she navigated the trauma of the attack and the loss of her mother.
Investigation into the background of the individuals involved revealed a history of domestic turbulence. Gale and Marvin Verner had filed for divorce in 2013, with the separation finalized in 2014. Court records showed that Gale had previously sought legal protection against Marvin, obtaining a protective order in 2015 following an incident where he physically assaulted her. The ongoing strain and history of aggressive behavior culminated in the fatal encounter on that Sunday night.
The perpetrator, Marvin Verner, was identified as the sole suspect in the shooting. Following the attack on his ex-wife and daughter, he retreated to his own residence where he died by suicide. Because the suspect took his own life, there were no arrests made, nor were there any subsequent criminal trials or convictions related to the murder of Gale Verner. The case was closed by authorities as a murder-suicide, leaving the surviving family to mourn the senseless loss.
