NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — A spree of targeted violence took place in Newton County on Friday, the sheriff’s office says, as a Walmart employee shot two fellow employees at the Salem Road store during overnight hours and then broke into a home and shot a third coworker.

Two of the victims are dead, according to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, and the third is in critical condition. The sheriff’s office said the suspect made it to South Carolina before being apprehended and is now in custody.

“This was not an active shooter situation,” the sheriff’s office said. “The suspect specifically targeted individuals they knew.”

Sgt. Jack Redlinger with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office described the first two victims at Walmart as males, while the third victim at a residence was a female. The first victim shot at Walmart and the woman shot at the home are the victims who have died.

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office said deputies first responded to the store, which was closed, around 1:30 a.m.

The sheriff’s office says the suspect left the store and then “retrieved a firearm and returned inside” and then “located an acquaintance within the store and fatally shot them.”

“The suspect later encountered a second acquaintance outside the Walmart, who was shot and transported to a local hospital in critical condition,” the sheriff’s office said.

The suspect then went to a home on Emerson Trail, less than two miles away, where they broke inside and “located another acquaintance and fatally shot them.” Family identified the victim as 19-year-old Akeela Clarke. 

The sheriff’s office described the investigation as “active and ongoing.” 

There were no other immediate additional details, including any identifying information about the suspect or the victims, what led to the shooting or why the victims were targeted.

Walmart said in a statement:

“We’re heartbroken by what’s happened. There’s no place for violence in our stores. We’re focused on taking care of our associates and supporting law enforcement with their investigation”

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