Officials: 5 people dead in 2 shootings in Georgia

AP , Saturday 23 Apr 2016

Georgia
In this photo provided by courtesy of WRDW/WAGT Augusta, Columbia County Sheriff deputies investigate the scene of a shooting on Friday night, April 22, 2016, in Appling, Ga. (AP)

A man who shot and killed five people during two separate shootings as part of a domestic dispute in Georgia was found dead in his home early Saturday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.

The body of Wayne Anthony Hawes, 50, was recovered Saturday by authorities in his northeastern Georgia home, Columbia County Sheriff Captain Andy Shedd said in a statement. Shedd said the Friday night shootings stem from a domestic dispute that left three men and two females dead.

Sheriff deputies responded to a home on Johnson Drive about 7:54 p.m. Friday and discovered three victims - a male and two females. At 8:32 p.m., authorities responded to a second crime scene on Washington Road where two other victims, a male and female, also were found.

The victims found at the home on Johnson Drive were identified as Roosevelt Burns, 75, Rheva Mae Dent, 85, and Kelia Clark, 31. Victims found at the Washington Road scene were identified as Lizzy Williams, 59, and Shelly Williams, 62.

Hawes knew the victims and the shootings stemmed from a domestic incident, Shedd said.

He said Hawes' wife was not among the victims but that some of her family members were among those killed.

One female died on the way to the hospital, according to Shedd. The others were dead at the scene.

An investigation is ongoing.

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