Hiram, GA – In a horrifying incident at a Walmart in Hiram, Georgia, terror engulfed shoppers as a man shot his ex-girlfriend before turning the gun on himself, leading to a tragic murder-suicide.
The victims have been identified as Zoey Nicole Messenger, 20, and James Wyatt Nicholas Norton, 26. Norton, an employee at the Hiram Walmart, was the perpetrator of the crime. It is believed that Messenger had also worked for the company, although it remains unclear if she was employed at the same store.
The two had previously been in a relationship, but Messenger had ended it. The shooting occurred around 7:30 pm on a Wednesday evening. Investigators disclosed that Norton approached Messenger in one of the store’s aisles after 7 pm and engaged in conversation. Though the discussion did not seem hostile, Norton suddenly produced a handgun and shot Messenger before fatally shooting himself.
First responders swiftly arrived at the scene, rushing the injured pair to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital. Tragically, both victims were pronounced dead upon arrival.
While the terrifying event left shoppers in the store unharmed physically, they were traumatized by the incident. Witness Devani Lopez described the panic that ensued as shots rang out, prompting people to run for their lives and seek safety.
Hiram Police Chief Mike Turner emphasized that this was not an act of an active shooter but a known-to-known shooting event involving individuals familiar with each other due to a prior relationship. He acknowledged the fear instilled not only in the victim but also in other shoppers present during the harrowing incident.
Walmart issued a statement expressing their heartbreak over the tragedy and confirming their priority of ensuring the safety of associates and customers. The Hiram store will remain closed during the law enforcement investigation.
Categories: News
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn