A 51-year-old man is alleged to have shot and killed five people before turning the weapon on himself in Georgia on Friday night, after two separate shootings.
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Columbia County Sheriff Captain Andy Shedd said the suspect, who “died because of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head”, has been identified as Wayne Hawes, The Associated Press reported.
Police were at the scene of the first shooting, where three victims were found dead, when they got a call about the second shooting half a mile away. Family said Hawes just learned his wife was filing for divorce.
One female died on the way to the hospital, according to Mr Shedd. He says they are still seeking a suspect.
Officers found three shooting victims at that crime scene: Roosevelt Burns, 75; Rheba Mae Dent, 85; and Kelia Clark, 31.
Columbia County Sheriff Captain Andy Shedd said in a statement that the body the Hawes was recovered Saturday by authorities in his northeastern Georgia home.
WDRW-TV News 12 Hawes killed five people before he turned the gun on himself, police said.
“We believe the two shootings were related based on witness accounts”, he said.
Investigators believe the incidents are related, but have yet to release a motive for the shootings.
They entered the house after midnight Saturday and found the suspect dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The victims included her grandmother and a cousin, she said.
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There, they found two more victims: 59-year-old Lizzy Williams and 62-year-old Shelly Williams. “After we saw him go off, we were like: “That’s not right”, she added.
