Sheriff: Fla. father shot 2 children, then himself

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — A Clay County man undergoing a divorce shot and killed his two sleeping children while his wife was showering and then shot himself, authorities said.

Jerry Whitelaw, 49, killed his son, Kevin, 16, and daughter, Katie, 11, as they slept in their home on Fleming Island, according to Sgt. Dan Mahla of the Sheriff’s Office. Mahla said.

Whitelaw’s wife called the sheriff’s office shortly after 6 a.m. She said she was in the shower and did not hear anything, Mahla told The Florida Times-Union

Court records show Dana Whitelaw, 47, filed for divorce in August. Sheriff Rick Beseler said he was told the couple separated in June.

Jerry Whitelaw worked for a company called Idea Integration in downtown Jacksonville, but there was no answer at the company’s telephone when called by The Associated Press.

Kevin Whitelaw was a junior at St. Johns County Day School and was on the school’s football team, school officials said.

The school’s 350 students were told about the tragedy in an assembly Tuesday morning and four grief counselors were called in to help the students.

Kate Whitelaw attended Grace Episcopal Day School in Orange Park and Dana Whitelaw also worked at the school.

Calls to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office were not immediately returned.