Early Thursday morning in rural Dyer County, Tenn., a quiet community was shaken to its core when deputies found 60‑year‑old William John Lydon Jr. dead inside his Lennox‑area home and his 24‑year‑old son critically wounded in what law enforcement now believes was a horrific murder‑suicide carried out by the victim’s wife.
Shortly before dawn, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of gunfire on a residential road. When officers arrived, they discovered William Lydon suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office said. Nearby, his son lay seriously wounded from gunshots and was quickly transported by EMS to a regional hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Investigators have since identified the suspected shooter as Sherry Lydon, the wife and mother of the victims. Law enforcement says she shot her husband while he was sleeping, then turned the weapon on her son before fleeing the house in her vehicle.
What followed was a terrifying high‑speed crash on Interstate 155 near the Mid‑South Dragway (Highway 181), where Lydon drove into the westbound lanes against traffic. In an apparent suicide attempt, her car collided head‑on with an 18‑wheeler. Emergency crews rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she later died from her injuries. The driver of the semi‑truck was unhurt.
Sheriff Jeff Box described the incident as one of the most painful events the department has faced, noting the ripple effect through the tight‑knit rural community. “This is an incredibly tragic situation that has affected our community deeply,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Lydon family during this difficult time.”
Authorities say preliminary interviews with friends and neighbors indicate Sherry Lydon had recently undergone surgery and was reportedly struggling with her mental health in the days leading up to the violence. Officials have not released further medical details, but they believe these struggles may have played a role in her actions.
Law enforcement stressed there is no ongoing threat to the public, and both the residence and interstate crash sites were secured as active crime scenes. The Dyer County Criminal Investigation Division continues to process evidence and speak with witnesses as they work to piece together the hours before the tragedy unfolded. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office.
As the community comes to terms with this senseless loss, neighbors and family alike are left searching for answers and healing after a day that began like any other and ended in heartbreak.
