UPDATE: The man suspected of fatally shooting five people in separate incidents in Appling on Friday night has been found dead in his home, authorities said. The cause of death was an apparent gunshot wound, the Associated Press reported.
The body of Wayne Anthony Hawes, 50, was recovered Saturday morning, Columbia County Sheriff Capt. Anthony Shedd said in a statement. Shedd said that the Friday shootings stem from a domestic dispute.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Five people have been killed in two separate shootings in Appling on Friday night, according to media reports.
Maj. Steve Morris of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office told The Augusta Chronicle three people were shot on Johnson Drive near Washington Road and two other victims were found at a nearby subdivision.
Four were pronounced dead at the scene and one died on the way to Augusta University Medical Center.
Augusta is about 129 miles from Atlanta.
Morris said authorities are looking for a man, but no arrests have yet been made.
Columbia County Coroner Vernon Collins said he was called to the scene about 9:20 p.m. and pronounced a male and a female dead upon arrival. The victims have not yet been identified pending next of kin notification.
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