Sheriff: Lexington Man Stabs Uncle to Death, Kills Himself

Two people are dead and two others are injured after a murder-suicide Sunday at a home near Lexington, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. 

Detectives say Phillip Brierly Jr., 23, used a six-inch knife to stab his uncle, Dennis Twiddy, 60, multiple times in his back at the home at 112 Lantern Hill Circle, where the two men lived with other relatives.

The incident happened around 12:26 p.m., according to the sheriff's department. Other relatives went to Twiddy's bedroom after he yelled that he had been stabbed.  

Brierly then picked up a handgun and pointed it at his family members, according to the sheriff's department. The family members tried to disarm Brierly in the living room, but Brierly fired shots.

One of the gunshots hit his father, Phillip Brierly, Sr., 48, in his right shoulder as he was holding on to the barrel of the gun, according to the sheriff's department. Another gunshot hit Jay Lieurance, Jr., the brother-in-law of Phillip Brierly Jr., in the middle finger on his right hand. 

Deputies say after Phillip Brierly Jr. shot his father and brother-in-law, he walked into the laundry room and shot himself in the head. He and his uncle were pronounced dead at the scene. 

His father and brother-in-law were taken to Lexington Medical Center where they were treated for their gunshot wounds.

Deputies are investigating the incident and trying to determine a motive.