A Tennessee father died of a heart attack one day after learning his son had been brutally murdered. The body of Alan Short’s son, Christopher Scott Short, was found outside the Celebrity Coin Laundry in Greeneville, Tenn., on Oct. 2. The Short family told WATE TV that father and son were very close, and that Alan Short could not bear the news of his son’s death.
Police swiftly identified the suspect in Christopher Short’s murder as spree killer Stanley Eric ‘Woo-Woo’ Mossburg. Mossburg went on to murder two others victims before police apprehended him following a shootout with a SWAT team at a house in Winter Park, Fla., on Oct. 15.
“He said it was the worst pain he had ever felt,” said Alan’s brother, Wayne Short in an interview with WATE. “He said it was worse than when his mom and dad died, that he didn’t know if he could make it. The very next morning, he had a heart attack and died … The stress just was too much for him.”
After learning his son Christopher was murdered at a Greeneville laundromat, Alan Short died the next day after suffering a heart attack. https://t.co/Dtcdw5cL2t
— WATE 6 On Your Side (@6News) October 17, 2019
Killing Spree
After murdering Christopher Short, police believe Mossburg fled Tennessee for Spartanburg, S.C., before making his way to Polk County, Fla., where he went on to kill two people and hold their roommate captive for approximately 14 hours.
According to the police report, Mossburg had fled in a black Hyundai Tucson belonging to one of the victims. When Polk County police managed to locate the vehicle in a driveway and approached the house, Mossburg opened fire. They retreated and sent for SWAT team assistance. Mossburg is said to have continued to resist arrest, even fighting with the police dog.
He faces a long list of charges, including two counts of first degree murder and three counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office press conference can be viewed here.
“Mossburg told our victim he wanted to be a serial killer. He said he likes killing people. We know he’s killed at least 3 people. He tried to kill our deputies last night. This guy needs the death penalty if there’s ever anyone who needed the death penalty.” -Grady Judd, Sheriff pic.twitter.com/plOxcPaLKF
— Polk County Sheriff (@PolkCoSheriff) October 15, 2019
