A Spalding County woman who was shot early Tuesday is in critical condition at Atlanta Medical Center, officials said.

Grady Jack Norton, who deputies believe shot 42-year-old Amber Rae Brown, was holding a weapon next to Brown’s body as deputies entered the 600 block of Cheatham Road in Griffin about 9:15 a.m., Spalding County sheriff’s spokesman Capt. Dwayne Jones said.

A deputy ordered Norton to put down his weapon. That’s when Norton fired one shot into his head, Jones said.

Coroner Sonny Foster pronounced the 52-year-old Griffin man dead.

No additional information was released.

An investigation is ongoing, Jones said.

Know what's really going on with crime and public safety in your metro Atlanta community, including breaking news, trial coverage, trends and the latest on unsolved cases. Sign up for the AJC's crime and safety newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox.

In other news:

Blunt Message For Aetna After Girl’s Brain Surgery Coverage Denied

About the Author

Featured

Angie McBrayer, ex-wife of James Aaron McBrayer, leans her head on her son Sam McBrayer as she and her three children and two grandchildren (from left) Jackson McBrayer, 3, Piper Jae McBrayer, 7, Katy Isaza, and Jordan McBrayer, visit the grave of James McBrayer, Thursday, November 20, 2025, in Tifton. He died after being restrained by Tift County sheriff's deputies on April 24, 2019. His ex-wife witnessed the arrest and said she thought the deputies were being rough but did not imagine that McBrayer would die. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC