County Coroner Bobbie Dixon identified the dead as Kenneth E. Simonson, 41, of Cleveland, Tenn., ex-husband of the injured woman, Mindy Bullard, 35; Edward H. Manz III, 61, of Chattanooga, Bullard’s father; and David Dwight Hartline, 41, of Summerville, who had dated Bullard.
Police identified Hartline as the shooter.
Capt. Rick Swiney with the sheriff’s office initially said the motive for the shootings could be traced to a “domestic situation.” None of the children were hurt, he added.
“While having the party Hartline pulled up and apparently became upset because Bullard had previously informed him he was not welcome at the party,” the press release stated. “She had met and dated Hartline for approximately six months, but was trying to end the relationship with him. She observed Hartline get a handgun from the toolbox of his truck and start walking toward the door.”
According to the press release: Bullard screamed and got all the children to go upstairs and hide. Hartline entered the residence and began shooting. Bullard tried to escape by climbing out a second story window, but she was shot in the legs as she made her way across the roof. Officers believe that at some point, Manz got a handgun and returned fire, striking Hartline.
Other details were not available.
Dixon said she had spoken with Bullard’s mother, who said her daughter was being transferred to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga for corrective surgery on a crushed heel.
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