An ongoing domestic dispute between a UNC Health Care employee and her estranged husband climaxed early Monday morning in what police are calling an apparent murder-suicide.
UNC police have identified the victims as Shennel R. McCrimon McKendall, 37, of 612 Mitchell Chapel Road in Pittsboro, and Randy Leverne McKendall, 34, of the same address. The victims were married and reportedly estranged.
"There is no indication whatsoever that this is anything other than a domestic-related murder-suicide," University police Chief Derek Poarch said Monday.
University police received a call at 7:41 a.m. that reported gunshots being fired outside the James T. Hedrick Building, located at 211 Friday Center Drive, about 3 miles from the main campus.
Officers from the UNC Department of Public Safety and the Chapel Hill Police Department responded to the call and pronounced both victims dead at the scene.
Police reported that Shennel McKendall was walking into the Hedrick building, where she has worked as a support assistant in the employment office since Aug. 6, 2000, when an altercation ensued with her husband.
Randy McKendall then allegedly shot and killed his wife with a 9 mm handgun before committing suicide. Officials have yet to confirm the registration of the weapon or to determine if drugs or alcohol were involved.
At least two shots were fired, and the findings of ongoing investigations, including medical examinations and interviews with witnesses or people close to the couple, will uncover more clues to the incident, said Randy Young, spokesman for University police.
About 10 a.m. Monday, the victims' bodies were wheeled away from the murder scene. About half an hour later, officials had towed Randy McKendall's 1988 black Ford truck, which had run over a tree lining the driveway, and Shennel McKendall's 1999 green Honda Accord.
Officials began washing pavement and gathering the yellow police tape that outlined the homicide scene about 10:20 a.m.
The murder-suicide follows a series of domestic violence incidents first reported to the Chatham County Sheriff's Office on Oct. 9, according to information provided by Maj. Gary Blankenship of the office.
Randy McKendall received a domestic violence order on Nov. 15, but his wife reported several domestic violence incidents to the sheriff's office during the next weeks.
The sheriff's office received notification Nov. 18 that Randy McKendall was a patient in Lee County Hospital after attempting suicide through an overdose.
McKendall was arrested Nov. 23 and released the next day after securing a bond of $10,000.
No further contact was reported.
Family members could not be reached for comment Monday.
The employment office closed soon after the incident occurred, and counseling support was available.
Officials could not confirm the last homicide to occur on campus but recalled a similar incident more than a decade ago. The last homicide in Chapel Hill occurred June 17.
"I've never heard of anything quite like this," said Karen McCall, vice president of public affairs for the medical center.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
