Local ties found to San Antonio killing

The sister of former Coastal Plains Veterinary Clinic veterinarian Dr. Tom Lunsford was shot and killed Friday afternoon in San Antonio, apparently after spurning the affection of the suspect.

A memorial service was held Monday morning at Community Bible Church in San Antonio for Dr. Julie Beth Abbott, 47, a doctor of internal medicine. She was shot three times behind the offices of iMED Internal Medicine, a clinic she was a part owner of.

A police officer who arrived on the scene not long after the initial gunfire shot and wounded the shooter, Timothy McCloskey, 52, who was charged by proxy Friday with murder and attempted capital murder of a police officer/firefighter. Bonds totaled $225,000.

McCloskey, who underwent surgery and was in critical condition at University Hospital, is the husband of one of Dr. Abbott's patients, a woman who works as a receptionist at iMED. McCloskey had reportedly been sending Dr. Abbott flowers and love letters since meeting her at a Christmas party last year, police said.

He was reportedly standing over her with a gun when the police officer arrived. He was shot four times while approaching the police officer, who had taken up a position behind the door of his cruiser.

Tom and Ramonda Lunsford attended First Baptist Church in El Campo when they lived here. They have been missionaries in Ethiopa for many years with SIM (Serving In Mission). Dr. Abbott's father, Jack Lunsford, recently retired as a professor in geology from Texas A&M.

- Crime information courtesy MySA. com.