RIDGELAND, Miss. (WJTV) – Ridgeland police said the suspect in the triple homicide has died after a gunfight in Arizona.

Ridgeland Police Chief Brian Myers said during their investigation, Ivory James Welch III, the son of the victim Ida Welch, was developed as the suspect.

An arrest warrant was issued for him, and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force began searching for Welch.

Myers said Welch managed to get to Arizona before he was located by troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. He said troopers attempted to apprehend Welch, and he fired upon the troopers. Welch was fatally wounded in the gunfight.

The triple homicide happened on Sunday, May 12. Investigators said they received a call around 3:30 p.m. to conduct a welfare check at a home on Old Canton Road. They said three people were deceased in the living room of a home.

According to officers, the three victims suffered gunshot wounds. The victims were identified as Ida Thomas Welch, 76; Vicky Renee Welch, 56; and Crystal Lynn Welch, 42.

Crystal Welch was an associate clinical professor at the Mississippi College School of Law.

“It is with profound sadness that the Mississippi College and School of Law family mourns the passing of Crystal Welch, Associate Clinical Professor at the Mississippi College School of Law. The thoughts and prayers of our leadership, faculty, staff, and students are with Crystal’s family in this difficult time,” the college said in a statement to WJTV 12 News.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) are assisting in the investigation.