One killed, one critical following shooting over child support

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

One man was killed and another critically injured Friday following a shooting in Haralson County on Friday, about an hour west of Atlanta.

The incident apparently began when a woman and her husband stopped by the Buchanan home of her ex-husband to pick up a child support payment, said Deputy Jim Beck.

Shane Brown, 33, was the only person in the Old Corinth Road home when his ex-wife Denise Watkins arrived with her husband. Police aren't sure what prompted Brown to get a gun.

"It appears he fired and struck Tony Watkins," Beck said. Watkins, 33, of Bremen died at the scene.

A Haralson County deputy arriving at the scene on the rural road heard additional shots fired, Beck said. Police believe Brown then turned the gun on himself in the jaw. He was flown to Grady Hospital, where he was in surgery late Friday night.

Denise Watkins suffered minor injuries, and was treated and released from a local hospital.