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Suspect in Mississippi professor's death left written apology, police say

"Very sorry I wish I could take it back," suspect Shannon Lamb wrote on a sheet of paper that was later found at his home.

By Doug G. Ware

CLEVELAND, Miss., Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The Mississippi geography professor accused of the shooting deaths of his girlfriend and a history professor at Delta State University left behind a written apology, authorities said Tuesday.

Authorities spent a day searching for Shannon Lamb after Delta State University assistant professor Eric A. Schmidt was fatally shot in his on-campus office Monday morning. Officials later discovered that Lamb's live-in girlfriend, Amy Prentiss, had also been shot to death.

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Lamb was also a professor at the university.

Police ultimately caught up with Lamb, 45, early Tuesday in a wooded area near his parents' home, investigators said. As authorities closed in on him, Lamb killed himself with a gunshot wound to the head, officials said.

A search of Lamb's home turned up a written apology, police said Tuesday.

"Very sorry I wish I could take it back I loved Amy and she is the only person who ever loved me," authorities said the note said.

Investigators do not yet have a possible motive for the killings. Police said they have not yet uncovered any link between Prentiss, 41, and Schmidt, 39.

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Monday morning, police say Lamb called 911 and said, "I shot my wife last night."

He asked police to take care of their dog and reach out to Prentiss' family, The Washington Post reported.

"Take care of her," he reportedly said.

Classes were canceled on Monday and Tuesday at the northern Mississippi college, which has about 4,000 students.

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