...who then killed himself in a family dispute over a plot of land. Walter Earnest Birdsong, Jr. is the son of the late Walter E. Birdsong, Sr., the inventor of the Black-T finish well known in the firearms community.

https://www.dailymail.com/news...rt-land-dispute.html

By MELISSA KOENIG, US REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 02:15 EDT, 11 May 2026 | UPDATED: 03:14 EDT, 11 May 2026

A Mississippi firearms maker and his wife were murdered inside their own home by one of his relatives in a dispute over land.

Walter Earnest Birdsong Jr, 62, the owner of WE Birdsong & Associates, Inc, and his wife, Amanda Lynn Birdsong, 43, were found dead inside their home on Monterey Road in Florence on Friday night, the Rankin County Sheriff's Office announced.

The suspected gunman, Kurt Tyler Birdsong, 56, was also found dead inside a locked bathroom from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Tide News reports.

Records show Kurt had filed a lawsuit against Walter and two other relatives in 2019 alleging they had improperly transferred a 14-acre plot on the more than 100-acre swath of land to a third-party without his consent.

Kurt claimed in the legal filings the land had been promised to him in an oral agreement by his father before his death in 2015.

But the court ultimately ruled against Kurt, citing a lack of a written contract.

Following that ruling, neighbors said Kurt's behavior became more erratic, recalling multiple visits from sheriff's deputies over the past two years to mediate arguments between Kurt and other family members.

'You'd hear yelling sometimes late at night,' one neighbor who lives half a mile down the road told Tide News. 'But nobody ever thought it would come to this.'

'They're a gun family, sure, but they were always professional about it,' the neighbor added.

Investigators now believe Kurt entered the main home on Monterey Road - which he had reportedly been barred from following a heated argument in 2022 that involved threats of violence - with at least two handguns.

An altercation then ensued, during which Kurt shot Walter and Amanda multiple times.

Kurt is believed to have then retreated to a bathroom at the rear end of the house, locked the door and refused all communication attempts when officers arrived at the scene.

Deputies with the Rankin County Sheriff's Office said they received a frantic 911 call just before 4pm on Friday reporting that two people had already been shot and an armed suspect retreated inside the house, barricading himself inside.

The first deputies arrived on the scene within eight minutes - at which time they said the suspect was still alive inside the house, as they could hear movements but no verbal responses.

Due to concerns about the family's firearms business, the sheriff's office also requested assistance from the FBI Jackson office, the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clinton Bomb Squad.

'We could not rule out the presence of unexploded ordnance, booby traps or a large cache of weapons on the premises,' Sheriff Bryan Bailey said in a preliminary statement, citing the family business that specializes in a proprietary weapons coating renowned for its corrosion resistance and lubricity.

'As a result, neighboring homes were evacuated as a precaution and armored vehicles were brought in before SWAT teams made their approach.'

When the armored SWAT vehicles then arrived on the scene, negotiators tried to get in contact with Kurt, using a loudspeaker, a telephone and even drone-deployed communication devices, WLBT reports.

The SWAT team wound up spending more than three hours trying to reach Kurt, according to Tide News.

Finally, just after 7pm, deputies used armored equipment to breach the front door.

After clearing the main living areas, they found the bathroom door locked from the inside. Authorities then used a tactical ram to gain entry.

'This is one of the most difficult scenes I've worked in 20 years,' Rankin County Deputy Coroner Cliff Dunlap said. 'Not because of the condition of the bodies, but because of the sheer weight of family destruction.'

Those who knew Walter said he was a private, but dedicated member of the family business.

As the son of the company's founder, Walter Jr grew up around firearms and manufacturing, eventually taking on a leadership role within WE Birdsong & Associates.

Neighbors described him as a quiet man who kept to himself, but was always willing to lend a hand with mechanical repairs or farm work.

Amanda, meanwhile, was described as a vibrant presence who previously tried to mediate family disputes.

'She was always the one trying to get everyone to sit down and talk,' one neighbor said. 'It's a tragedy she got caught in the middle of this.'

Meanwhile, neighbors said Kurt, became increasingly isolated over the years even as he was reportedly living on a separate structure on the family-owned land.

The family has since issued a statement, asking for their privacy at this difficult time.

'We are heartbroken beyond words. We ask that you respect our grief as we bury Walter, Amanda and even Kurt - despite what he did, he was still family,' they said.

'The land that was meant to unite us has torn us apart,' the family added. 'Please pray for us.'

An investigation into the fatal shooting is now ongoing, with the FBI Jackson Field Office analyzing Kurt's computer and cellphone for any manifesto, messages or planning related to the shooting.

At the same time, the ATF is conducting a full inventory of the firearms and explosives at WE Birdsong and Associates to ensure no illegal activity occurred and to rule out any additional threats to the community.

Sheriff Bailey also indicated he will request a state-level review of how the court system handles family land disputes in an effort to prevent any future tragedies.

'This wasn't a stranger shooting or a home invasion,' noted Dr Lila Merritt, a sociologist at the University of Mississippi who studies rural family conflict.

'This was a slow-moving tragedy that played out over years [through] court hearings, angry phone calls, property line disputes.

'When you mix family legacy, access to firearms* and unresolved legal grievances, you have a recipe for disaster,' she warned. 'The only question is when, not if.'

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*Btw, note how they sneaked that anti-gun message in at the end. They found a sociologist with the message that basically says, "If they didn't have access to firearms, nobody would have died."

Just saw this in the news. I guess if it was that bad, a restraining order, on alert, call the police if he was ever seen on the property.

No I’m not saying it would be easy to stay ahead of it, family relations & all. I do know, any verbal claim of gifting land or whatever is virtually meaningless.

Yeah, when it comes to medical-legal stuff, if it's not in writing, it didn't happen.

That jab at the end!! When I read that, the rest of that article disappeared for me.
Unbelievable.

Dr. Merritt sounds like she’d make a great successor to Justice Jackson. But I don’t have a PhD so…

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
That jab at the end!! When I read that, the rest of that article disappeared for me.
Unbelievable.

Dr. Merritt sounds like she’d make a great successor to Justice Jackson. But I don’t have a PhD so…

Leave it to a British newspaper to go find a sociologist to backup up their anti-gun stance. I looked up Ole Miss faculty and staff. There is no Dr. Merritt listed.

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
That jab at the end!! When I read that, the rest of that article disappeared for me.
Unbelievable.

Dr. Merritt sounds like she’d make a great successor to Justice Jackson. But I don’t have a PhD so…

Exactly, leave gun connections out and you still have the story, a murderous relative bent on a land dispute.

Sad news for the family.

Incredibly sad news. I've done business with them for many years and had just talked to Wally at 1 pm Friday. (re: the title, Tyler was Wally's brother).

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
That jab at the end!! When I read that, the rest of that article disappeared for me.
Unbelievable.

Dr. Merritt sounds like she’d make a great successor to Justice Jackson. But I don’t have a PhD so…

A liberal socialist sociologist from the most liberal university in the state. What else would you expect?

RMD

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
That jab at the end!! When I read that, the rest of that article disappeared for me.
Unbelievable.

Dr. Merritt sounds like she’d make a great successor to Justice Jackson. But I don’t have a PhD so…

Yes, that was a jab at firearms, firearm owners and unnecessary . Stupid finish to an average written article.

Shame about the situation, sounds like this Kurt fellow had mental issues and he couldn't get over the land sale...

Very sad news. I had the privilege of meeting Walter Sr many years ago when I dropped off my duty 220, a 229 9mm, and a Marlin .44 limited for Black-T treatments. Walter gave me a tour of the operation and then spent an hour chatting with me in his office. I didn’t meet his son but I assume the Apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

I sincerely hope someone blasts the piece of shit making the hit post at his remaining family’s expense. What a typical leftist scumbag.

I spoke to him on the phone around 1996/97. He took the time to answer my questions. Seemed like a nice guy.

Very sad. Lived in Jackson, MS in the 90's. Buddy of mine at the time had several firearms coated by Mr Birdsong. I meet him a few times dropping off or picking with my buddy. Remember a nice guy that as said walked us around the shop and process. It was crazy seeing several firearms in various stages of assembly or un-assembly as high value and much desired. I just remember being out in some random property with a house and an unsuspecting shop and thought damn if folks only knew what was out here. Rest in Peace.