Reward Being Offered For Information on Henning Post Office Shooting

HENNING, Tenn. - Two female postal workers have been shot and killed inside a post office in Henning, Tennessee after a robbery.

The victims were identified by authorities as Judy Spray, 58, a rural carrier associate, and Paula Robinson, 33, a retail clerk.

Postal officials offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Suspects are still at large, and they are considered armed and dangerous.

State and federal investigators were searching for what was believed to be two suspects who left the scene in a maroon Chevy Malibu. Later, they backed off that description and have since said it is a burgundy Chevy Impala.

Because the post office shooting happened in a post office, which is a federal building, it could be considered a federal crime. If and when the individuals responsible for the post office shooting are caught, there are several crimes they could be charged with.

Pre-meditated murder would be the first, among many others that could carry life sentences or even the death penalty.

Postal Inspector Michael Romano said in an interview that such incidents are not common.

"This is definitely rare," he said. "This is not something we deal with."

District Attorney Mike Dunavant said the case involved "disturbing violence" but did not elaborate.

Police confirmed the two bodies were discovered before 9:00 am Monday morning. A forensic team remained in the post office late Monday afternoon. The bodies were to be taken to Memphis for autopsies. Sources say multiple shots were fired inside the post office, as many as 9 shots.

A witness told a state employee at the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville, Tony Burns, that the shooting happened during a robbery attempt. Burns said his sister-in-law, a postal service worker, was assigned to the Henning office Monday. He said she told him she escaped unharmed.

Jeff Dew, of the Dennis Dew Termite Co., told the AP that his brother, Eric Banks, was driving through the area when a woman flagged him down near the post office.

He said that his brother reported the shooting to police. He said he hasn't been able to speak to his brother because his brother has been talking with police since about 9 a.m.

“I went to the post office and went in and was sending a certified letter.”

Mary Hammock who works just down the road walked in at about 20 minutes before 9:00 am Monday morning.

“All I could think of, its awful quite in here it just wasn't right,” said Hammock.

FOX13 spoke with Tinika Pitts who walked in after the bodies were discovered. She came in to mail a letter and said the pest control crew insisted that she leave. Pitts said they told her the two had been shot and asked her to get in touch with the Post Master.

Security is heightened throughout the county and the surrounding area. All financial institutions of any type in the county were shut down briefly this morning and told to lock their doors. They have slowly been allowed to reopen throughout the day.

Nearby Ripley Primary School (grades 3 through 5) was put on immediate lockdown. This lockdown was lifted at approximately 11:00 am. All Lauderdale County schools remain in session.

Standing on a street corner within sight of the post office, city resident Emmitt Hennings, a 71-year-old retiree, said it was hard to comprehend what had happened.

"I just couldn't believe it, not in this town," Hennings said. "It's too quiet."

Everyone in town stops by the post office to pick up their mail because it isn't delivered in the city, he said.

FOX13 spoke with Tinika Pitts who walked in after the bodies were discovered. She came in to mail a letter and said the pest control crew insisted that she leave. Pitts said they told her the two had been shot and asked her to get in touch with the Post Master.

The FBI and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are helping the postal service investigate.

“Suspects and descriptions of people and vehicles that may have been involved are being developed,” said authorities.

Monday as investigators were keeping a tight lip and releasing little information.
The whole community asks why.

Mary Hammock thinks she may have saved her own life by walking out of the door.

“I think they were in the back who ever did this,” said Hammock.

Henning is located about 50 miles North of Memphis between Covington and Ripley, Tennessee. The post office is located in Lauderdale County.