Former soldier who stabbed five children had stormy marriage

<p>A former soldier who attacked five children in his household with a hunting knife, killing the youngest two, and then slashed his own throat had a stormy four-year relationship with the children's mother, police and relatives said.</p><p>Clarence Moore, 24, attacked the children Wednesday afternoon at their house in a poor section of south Columbus.</p><p>Clarence "Little Clarence" Smith Moore, 1, died on the floor beside his bed, said Muscogee County Coroner James Dunnavant. Stephan Smith Moore, 2, was pronounced dead at The Medical Center, the city's largest hospital, and the children's attacker died in surgery, officials said.</p><p>Shelton Smith-Nunn, 5, and Shawn Smith, 4, remained in critical condition Friday, said hospital spokeswoman Marion Scott. Their sister, Shelby Smith, 6, was in satisfactory condition.</p><p>Beverly Moore, the mother of all five children, was not injured.</p><p>On Wednesday she called 911 after a fight with her husband, police Lt. Steve Cox said. Officers arrived at the house and found Beverly Moore locked outside, with her husband and the children inside.</p><p>Cox said officers banged on the door but did not know how serious the situation was until the 6-year-old girl, wounded and bleeding, managed to open the door.</p><p>Moore's mother, Deloris Moore of Highland Park, Mich., said her son married the children's mother on Valentine's Day 2003, but that their troubled relationship began in 2001.</p><p>Moore joined the Army in April 2002. He was attached to the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Parachute Regiment as a parachute rigger at Fort Benning. The post's commander, Brig. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, said Moore was released from the Army six months ago for misconduct. Moore never served in Iraq or Afghanistan, officials said.</p><p>Last October, while the family was living in a Columbus apartment, Moore was arrested when his wife told police he head-butted her during an argument. He was charged with battery-family violence, and posted $1,000 bond at the Muscogee County Jail.</p><p>Later that month, his wife told police he had violated the conditions of his bond by taking several items, including a van and a television, from the apartment.</p><p>The family moved to the small frame house where the attacks occurred in late January. They left the house on Feb. 6 to visit friends and relatives in Michigan and returned to Columbus Wednesday, just hours before Moore's slashing spree, neighbors said.</p><p>Police identified "Little Clarence" as Moore's only biological child in the household.</p><p>Two of the victims, including "Little Clarence," were stabbed with a 6- to 8-inch knife in a front bedroom; two of the children were in a back bedroom, and one child was in the living room, Cox said. Clarence Moore was found near the front door, Cox said.</p><p>Autopsy reports indicate Clarence Moore died of a cut to the right side of his neck.</p><p>Stephan Moore died of stab wounds to the head and trunk and "Little Clarence" died of stab wounds to the head and neck, authorities said. The knife used in the attacks was found on the floor in a hallway near a front room, officials said.</p><p>Delores Moore said her son was frequently suspended from Highland Park High School for nonviolent infractions such as skipping classes or failing do complete homework assignments, but teachers also complimented him for being polite and pleasant.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x2865300)</p>

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