911 call pieces together Raleigh murder scene, suspect sought
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Raleigh police are searching for the man they said murdered his wife Thursday morning.
They say 42-year-old Michael Sutton gunned down his wife, Tonya Sutton, around 11:30 a.m. in the 2400 block of Wesvill Court in Raleigh.
A caller told a 911 operator that he heard 15 shots. That call revealed Tonya had been in another man's apartment when she was shot to death. That man managed to escape and make the call.
Caller: "My God. He's shooting her. He's shooting her."
Operator: "OK"
Caller: "He's shooting her. Oh God, he shot her."
Operator: "OK. Stay on the phone with me."
You can hear the fear and awe in the caller's voice.
Operator: "And he shot his wife?"
Caller: "Yes, she's dead. Oh my God."
Operator: "Alright, alright. Stay on the phone with me OK."
Caller: "Oh God!"
In real time, the man tells the operator that Tonya's husband, Michael Sutton, is shooting her with what looks like a 9 millimeter gun and is fleeing the scene in a light blue Toyota. Then the caller dropped the bombshell.
Caller: "I had to jump out my window because he shot my door down and kicked my door down and came in."
Operator: "So she was with you? She was with you?"
Caller: "Yes."
Operator: "Like an ex-husband?"
Caller: "I don't know. I guess they was still together."
The man had been with Tonya moments earlier. He managed to avoid the barrage of bullets.
"When she screamed she came out of the apartment. She went back down that way, and as she was going that way, I ran back to my apartment," said eyewitness Rene Sutton. "Then as my door was shutting I heard 'bang, bang, bang, bang.'"
As Raleigh police investigated, three schools were put on lockdown including East Clayton Elementary where neighbor's said the couple had a child attending.
"They was afraid the guy would go over there and get the kids and you know he has a gun," said neighbor Yuderka Rosario. "He could be a dangerous person. I feel very bad and I hope that they catch the guy and I pray for the family."
Michael Sutton was last seen wearing a blue shirt and khaki pants.
So far, police haven't said anything about his current location or a motive.
Anyone who believes they may know where Sutton is or believes they have seen him Thursday asked to 911 or Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP.
