Suspect charged in mother’s fatal shooting at birthday party

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In this photo made available by the Dyer County Sheriff\'s Office, Tenn., on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, shows Torius Russell under arrest. Authorities accuse Russell of fatally shooting the mother of a 2-year-old during the child\'s birthday party in Dyersburg, Tenn., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (Dyer County Sheriff\'s Office via AP)

DYERSBURG, Tenn. – Authorities say a man accused of fatally shooting the mother of a 2-year-old during the child’s birthday party in western Tennessee had been at the residence earlier in the day in a disturbance reported to police.

Dyersburg, Tennessee, Police Chief Steven Isbell said 30-year-old Torius Russell was charged Friday morning with first-degree murder.

The shooting happened about 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Seven people at the party, including a 6-year-old, were wounded.

Isbell said police were called to the home about 4 p.m. on a report of a car that had just left the scene with an armed occupant. He said officers found the vehicle and searched it but didn’t find a weapon.

He said Russell was an occupant in the vehicle at the time. He said Russell was alone when he returned to the home.

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