RIDGELAND, Miss. (WJTV) – New details are emerging about the triple homicide investigation after a mother and her two daughters were shot and killed in Ridgeland.

Aerial footage showed the scene in Arizona when several law enforcement vehicles surrounded the car of 54-year-old Ivory James Welch III, who was the suspect in the case.

Ridgeland police said Welch was shot and killed after a gunfight with Arizona state troopers on Monday, May 13.

Ridgeland Police Chief Brian Myers said Welch had almost a 24-hour head-start following the shooting deaths of his mother and two sisters. The victims were identified as Ida Thomas Welch, 76; Vicky Renee Welch, 56; and Crystal Lynn Welch, 42. They were found shot in the head inside a home on Old Canton Road on Sunday, May 12.

Myers said Ridgeland police had previous encounters with the suspect.

“Don’t really know the motive. There’s some mental illness background with Mr. Welch. That’s all I’ve learned so far. This will be a long investigation. We will continue to investigate this. The Arizona Department of Public Safety has been very helpful. They have been doing a lot of the investigation out there since they have the car. They have his body, and they also have a weapon,” said Myers.

The police chief said Welch had an extensive criminal history of domestic assaults and simple assaults dating back to 2006.