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WAVERLY, Tenn. — A tragic incident in Humphreys County has left a small Tennessee community reeling after a 32-year-old nurse allegedly shot and killed three family members before turning the gun on herself, authorities confirmed. 
Humphreys County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence on East Little Richland Road on Friday morning, Jan. 2, when they conducted a welfare check and discovered four bodies inside the home. 
Preliminary investigations indicate that Heather Thompson, a nurse practitioner at a local hospital, fatally shot her two young sons — 4-year-old Arius Thompson and 13-year-old Isaiah Johnson — along with her 88-year-old grandmother, Evelyn Johnson, before turning the weapon on herself. All four died of apparent gunshot wounds. 
Sheriff Chris Davis said there was no sign of forced entry and no evidence suggesting anyone else was involved in the incident. Family members and deputies said they were unaware of prior domestic violence complaints or mental health calls at the home. 
The children’s father, Biah Thompson, expressed deep sorrow in a social media post, saying the loss of his sons had “shattered” him and that he wished he could “just wake up” from the tragedy. He has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help bring their bodies home to New Mexico and cover related expenses. 
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is assisting local law enforcement as the investigation continues. Authorities have not released a motive for the killings. 
The community in this rural corner of Tennessee, already tight-knit and familiar with hardship, is now mourning the devastating loss and searching for answers in the wake of the tragedy. 
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, support is available. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for confidential 24/7 assistance from the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.