FOLEY, Ala. — A 46-year-old woman, who appears to have planned to leave her 67-year-old husband, was shot to death Sunday afternoon in the city’s first homicide of 2008.

David H. Mumford was transported from Foley Municipal Jail to the Baldwin County Corrections Center at approximately 10:30 a.m. Monday. He is charged with murder in the shooting death of his wife, Theresa Ann Welsh.

Other charges against Mumford relating to domestic violence could be forthcoming, said Police Chief David Wilson during a 2 p.m. press conference held Monday in the Municipal Courtroom at Foley Justice Center.

According to Wilson, preliminary investigation shows that Welsh was planning on leaving Mumford.

“We believe he suspected this and came home before she could leave,” Wilson said.

A press release issued by Foley Police Department in connection with the events that transpired at 21322 U.S. Highway 98 East notes that Welsh attempted to lock Mumford out when she showed up but he kicked in the door.

She sprayed him with pepper spray and fled further into the house. He shot her as she fled with a handgun described by FPD as a .25 caliber Colt pistol.

Wilson would only say that the victim was shot “more than once.”

The couple’s 14-year-old son, who was playing a computer game at the time the series of events began, kicked the gun from his father’s hand, the release said.

By that point, “He (Mumford) had already fatally wounded her (Welsh),” said Wilson during the press conference.

Mumford is then alleged to have turned on his son and began fighting him - choking him - but the son was able to strike his father in the head and stop the attack, according to the release, which noted the pepper spray was also taking effect on Mumford by then.

Other domestic violence charges that could be filed against Mumford would involve the attack on the son, Wilson said.

A son, age 12, was outside the residence at the time the shooting took place.

“He just lost his temper and started shooting at her,” is the way Wilson described Mumford’s recounting of the incident when he was questioned and confessed to the murder.

Mumford came outside with his hands in the air and waving a white towel when police arrived at the scene, Wilson said.

After Foley police took Mumford down at gunpoint, EMS administered medical treatment to the victim, who died on scene, the release said.

From conversations and interviews with neighbors and family, Wilson said police have learned that there were “major marital issues” between Mumford and Welsh, but he noted FPD officers haven’t been dispatched to the home for domestic reasons in recent memory.

The couple’s children said Mumford was abusive, Wilson said.

“They are devastated,” Wilson said of the children, who have been released to an older brother who no longer lived in the household.

Wilson expressed gratitude to the staff and members of Foley First Baptist Church, where the children attended.

The pastor, the Rev. Billy Nale, and the church’s Children & Family Minister, Kevin Nelson, came to the scene of the shooting to minister to the children, Wilson said.

First Baptist is working with the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Human Resources to assist in helping the children.

“We’re working with the oldest brother to help him with the younger boys,” said Nale on Tuesday morning.

Besides talking with the children several times since the incident occurred, Nale said the church has also supplied food and guidance as far as making decisions. Nelson, the Children’s Minister, has counseled with the boys twice, Nale said.

The church is also in the process of setting up the “Terry Welsh Family Fund” at Colonial Bank.

“These boys literally lost everything,” said Nale, who will be conducting the funeral service for Theresa Ann Welsh on Friday.

“We will be with them every step of the way,” said Nale, who notes the church wants to be “proactive” in its ministry to the boys.