GEORGIA/SOUTH CAROLINA () – On April 11th, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Newton County deputies responded to a shooting at the Walmart located on Salem Road in Covington, Georgia.

Per the Newton County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page, the store was closed for business, with only employees present inside at the time.

A preliminary investigation found that one of the employees exited the building, retrieved a firearm and returned inside.

The suspect 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.

Following the shooting at Walmart, the suspect forced entry into a residence on Emerson Trail, where they located another acquaintance and fatally shot them.

This was not an active shooter situation, he suspect specifically targeted individuals they knew, authorities say.

Around 3:55 am, Aiken County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to I-20 at the 32mm Eastbound after receiving a call for assistance from the Georgia State Patrol in locating an armed and dangerous suspect wanted for Murder, out of the Newton County.

After a brief standoff with the suspect, deputies, South Carolina State Troopers and Aiken County EMS rendered medical aid for a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The suspect was transported to a local area hospital. No deputies were injured.

Aiken County investigators will be assisting the Newton County Sheriff’s Office with their investigation

This is a developing story.