A tragic shooting left a Birmingham, Alabama, mother dead and four of her children shot and wounded late Wednesday night. According to police and witness statements, Sedrick Norris, 36, went on a shooting rampage after a long-standing domestic dispute with Coral Anita Wilson, 34, the mother of his eight children. A temporary protective order was currently in place on Norris because of a physical assault on Valentine’s Day. During that assault, he allegedly pushed Wilson and a 9-year-old over a table. The couple had a long history of domestic violence and civil litigation going back to 2003. The restraining order was issued in March and Norris was not allowed near the home or school.
Despite the order, Norris allegedly went to Wilson’s home and kicked in the door demanding to see his children. LaShundra Guss was at the home that night helping Wilson take care of her kids. Besides being a stressed mom, she also suffered from lupus and Guss’ help was greatly needed. Guss told police and media that she told Norris, “Sed, look, you got them upset and they’re crying. Please leave. You know you don’t supposed [sic] to be here. Don’t make me call the police because if I call the police, you know you’re going to jail.”
Norris seemed to calm down and Guss left the house to tend to her mother, who is suffering from cancer. From next door she heard the sound of gunfire and screaming children as Norris opened fire with a rifle. He shot his longtime girlfriend multiple times, then started shooting at his children, striking four of them ages 5, 8, 11 and 12. According to police the 12-year-old girl was shot in the chest; the 5-year-old boy was shot in the jaw; the 8-year-old girl was grazed in the leg and the 11-year-old boy was shot in the hand and upper leg or hip. All the children are stable and expected to survive.
The children ran screaming from the house with the 12-year-old stating, “I can’t believe my daddy just shot me.” Guss who lived across the street began tending to children and 911 was called. When police arrived they found Wilson dead on the living room floor of her home. After a six-hour search for Norris, he was found sleeping in a vehicle. According to police, he seemed relieved to be arrested and is cooperating with homicide detectives. He is being held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail. He is charged with one count of capital murder, and four counts of attempted murder.
