A pastor in Louisiana shot his wife on Wednesday, June 21, in front of their children before shooting himself at a hotel in Mississippi.
Danny Prenell Jr., 25, identified as the lead pastor at the Bright Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Pineville, Louisiana, shot his wife, Gabby Prenell, 27, before turning the gun on himself. The blood-stained floors near the elevators of the Hampton Inn in McComb, Mississippi, bear witness to the horror that transpired around 3:30 pm.
While updates on the condition of Danny and Gabby Prenell have not been provided by authorities, a friend of Gabby’s shared a heartfelt post on Facebook, indicating that she was still fighting for her life in the intensive care unit. The news of this devastating act has sent shockwaves through the local community, leaving them grappling with grief and disbelief.
Court records show a history of domestic violence, with Gabby getting an order of protection against Danny in 2016. She accused him of often pointing a gun at her and threatening to kill her, and constantly beating her.
Prior to his role as a pastor, Danny Prenell served as a sheriff’s deputy with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Department until December 2022. On his Facebook page, he frequently shared reflections on personal growth and faith. In one poignant post, he described his wife as a woman of class, discretion, integrity, and a woman of God, testifying to the depth of their relationship.
The incident serves as a chilling reminder of the distressing frequency of domestic shootings plaguing the nation. A database compiled by multiple media organizations reported 17 such cases in 2022 alone. The hotel massacre represents a distressingly common occurrence in various communities, with law enforcement officials attributing the motives behind these acts to issues surrounding finances or relationships.
In a heart-wrenching Facebook post, Pastor Prenell composed a birthday message to his wife, expressing his love and gratitude, referring to her as his queen and the woman to whom he owed his life.
