The father of the man suspected of killing eight people in a weekend shooting spree was fatally shot in 1999.

Willie Cory Godbolt’s father, Chris Godbolt, was shot by his ex-wife, according to police records. Chris Godbolt was a Brookhaven police officer at the time of the shooting.

Joyce Godbolt was sentenced to 20 years after pleading guilty to manslaughter and burglary of a dwelling in connection with Chris Godbolt’s shooting.

District Attorney Dunn Lampton said Chris Godbolt was a fine officer and a fine person with whom he had ridden with on many occasions while working on cases.

“He was always readily available and willing to help me and my office,” Lampton said in 1999.

According to the police report, Chris Godbolt was shot around 4:09 a.m. Nov. 15, 1999, at the 503 South First St. home of Beverly Howard as she was preparing to take him back to his home in Bogue Chitto. Howard was a friend of Godbolt’s and the two had been to church earlier that night.

Following an investigation, police learned the weapon used was Godbolt’s service revolver, which Joyce Godbolt had taken from the officer’s home.

Willie C. Godbolt would have been 17 when the shooting took place.

He will likely be charged with one count of capital murder and seven counts of first degree murder in the deaths of eight people late Saturday and early Sunday, said Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesman Warren Strain.