Danny Prenell Jr., pastor of Bright Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Pineville, Louisiana, allegedly shot his wife before turning the gun on himself.
Investigators said Prenell, 25, shot his 27-year-old wife, Gabrielle Prenell, twice before shooting himself once. The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21, at the Hampton Inn on Cheyenne Drive, near Interstate 55 in McComb, Mississippi. Their three children were reportedly present.
They were both airlifted from Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center in McComb and rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson. Their conditions are unknown as of Thursday morning but their children are already in the custody of child protective services.Â
In a Facebook post that was sent from the Hampton Inn hotel where the shooting took place, Prenell captioned a picture with his wife and kids: ‘I may not be a perfect man, but I’ll always be a family man.’
According to Prenell’s Facebook page, he’s a former sheriff’s deputy with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Department up until as recently as December 2022.Â
Also, on April 6, 2023, Prenell paid tribute to his wife on her birthday calling her ‘my queen’ and ‘the woman that I love and owe my life to.’
‘I’ve watched your growth on all levels and you’re a great mother, wife, and my best friend. I’m proud to be your husband because you are a woman of class, discretion, integrity, and most importantly….you’re a woman of God,’ he added.
Danny Jr. and Gabrielle PernellThe pastor regularly spoke about his self-growth in Facebook posts.Â
‘At the age of 25, I often hear that I’m far beyond my years. However, I never get satisfied with where I am….I’m constantly looking for more,’ he wrote on April 16.Â
‘People with small minds will keep you locked up into what can fit into their heads. The God I serve doesn’t have a limit, and I’m staying faithful because I know my cup shall run over,’ he added.Â
Brenda Gross writes out of Nashville, Texas for various blogs.
