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Cops: Alleged Oxford, Conn., Killer Nabbed Amid Suicide Attempt

OXFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Connecticut man shot his wife and mother-in-law Wednesday morning, prompting a massive manhunt that ended with his capture, police said.

Scott Gellatly, 46, fatally shot his estranged wife, Lori Gellatly, 32, and seriously wounded her mother, Merry Jackson, at the Oxford home the couple once shared with their children, police said

Gellatly was apprehended shortly after noon in Winsted -- about an hour's drive from the shooting -- and arrested on a prior misdemeanor warrant, state police Lt. J. Paul Vance said. More serious charges are expected.

Husband Of Woman Slain In Oxford, Conn. Double Shooting In Custody

Lori Gellatly was taken to Waterbury Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Jackson was in critical condition at Saint Mary's Hospital, which was placed under a temporary lockdown as a precaution.

Police in three states were alerted to look for the alleged gunman, CBS 2's Lou Young reported.

As WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported, Gellatly was tracked down in his truck, which was parked in the lot of a KFC restaurant in Winsted.

According to police, Gellatly had attached a hose to his tailpipe in a suicide attempt.

Police rushed him to a hospital, where he was revived. He is expected to face murder and other charges, Schneidau reported.

Two toddlers were in the house at the time of the shootings but neither was injured. He said they were placed in the care of family members and were safe, Vance said.

Vance said police had been to the home previously, but would not say why. They already had an active warrant for Scott's Gellatly's arrest, Vance said, but he would not say what charges Gellatly was facing, and it wasn't immediately clear when the warrant had been issued.

Posts on Gellatly's Facebook page indicate the couple had been having marital problems for months and that she had moved out of their home, which is located in the same neighborhood.

A state spokesman said Lori Gellatly was an analyst for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Court records show she had a restraining order against her husband.

Police told CBS 2 Lori Gellatly had her mother staying with her because she was afraid of her husband.

Residents in both Oxford and Winsted were relieved the alleged killer has been caught.

"It was a little unnerving," Janine LaMontain, of Oxford, told Young. "Very close to home."

"Yeah, it was kind of scary," said Diane Kirsch, of Winsted.

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