A morning visit meant to help a friend turned deadly on January 10, 2017. Brandy Lynn Hardman, 40, went to a mobile home on Nova Road in the Mineral Wells area to assist Karen Sampson during a domestic dispute with her ex-husband, Jeff Sampson. Brandy and her husband Shawn Hardman arrived between 8 and 9 a.m.; Jeff Sampson also appeared and an altercation escalated into gunfire.

Brandy was pronounced dead at the scene. Shawn Michael Hardman was critically wounded, taken to Camden Clark Medical Center, and later died of his injuries. Karen Sampson was not injured but called 911; neighbors also reported hearing the shots. The shooter, identified as 46-year-old Jeff Sampson, fled, briefly went to his parents’ home, then led police on a multi-county pursuit. He was captured on Interstate 79 in Braxton County about three hours after the shooting and was arrested and charged with two counts of murder; he was denied bond in court.

Did anyone in the area know the Hardmans or have information about the events that morning?