A 53-year-old Garrison man, who police say apparently was depressed over the deaths of two of his children, shot and killed his wife before killing himself yesterday morning, authorities said.
Marvin Christian Walker shot his wife, Delois A. Gibson, 50, once in the head in their townhouse in the 8000 block of Upperfield Lane, police said. Tactical Team officers found their bodies in an upstairs bedroom about 8: 50 a.m.
According to police, Walker and a relative called police about 7: 10 a.m. and said Walker had killed his wife and was going to shoot himself.
Police surrounded the house and called for hostage negotiators and the Tactical Team.
Negotiators tried for about an hour to call Walker and make contact before the Tactical Team went into the house and found a 12-gauge shotgun near Walker's body, police said.
Neighbors said Gibson's son was shot to death more than a decade ago and Walker's son died in an automobile accident a couple of years ago. His son's death profoundly affected Walker, neighbors said.
"He became a different person. He was so sad," said Marsha Darmon, who lives across the street and said she knew the couple for nine years. "It had to be grief. It just had to be. It just doesn't make sense. But depression never does."
Gibson worked as a private duty nurse. Walker installed carpet, sometimes working for other people, sometimes self-employed. Darmon said they were married at least 15 years.
Pub Date: 1/22/97
