UPDATED STORY: A Cadiz man remains in the hospital and is now charged with murder following a four-hour standoff with police in Richmond on Tuesday.
51-year-old Thomas Birl will be charged with two counts of murder and one count each of first-degree arson, tampering with physical evidence, and first-degree criminal mischief. Richmond Police said once Birl is released from the unnamed medical facility, he will be charged and lodged in jail. He remains under 24-hour police watch.
Police said Birl was taken to a medical facility as a safety precaution to ensure he didn’t have injuries not visible to law enforcement.
Birl is accused of shooting and killing 54-year-old Christopher Hager and his wife Gracie Hager Tuesday afternoon. Police said Birl then barricaded himself inside a residence and set it on fire. Richmond Police were able to put the first out. Birl surrendered to police four hours later.
Richmond Police said it’s not immediately known if the victims were familiar with Birl before the shootings and a preliminary investigation did not indicate whether the victims were at the residence to serve a notice of eviction.
Media reports in Lexington said the Hagers owned the duplex where the shootings occurred.
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ORIGINAL STORY: A Cadiz man was arrested in Richmond Tuesday following a four-hour standoff with police.
52-year-old Thomas Birl was arrested and is considered the main suspect in the shooting of a Richmond couple.
The Richmond Register newspaper reported that 54-year-old Christopher Hager and his wife Gracie Hager were shot and killed Tuesday afternoon. Police said Birl barricaded himself inside a residence for four hours before surrendering.
The newspaper said Hager was the owner of the duplex where Birl was located and that he tried to set it on fire before his capture.
As of late Tuesday, police had not released Birl’s charges, and the Madison County Jail website did not list a bond.
