Authorities in Whitfield County have identified the victims and shooter in an apparent double murder and suicide that happened Thursday evening in the parking lot of a northwest Georgia gas station and fast food restaurant.
The Dalton Daily Citizen newspaper reported that Christopher Eric Whitmore, 36, shot and killed Melissa Ball, 27, and their son, Grayden Lee Whitmore, 8, then shot himself.
All three are from the Beaverdale community, the newspaper reported.
Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood told the Daily Citizen that the couple “had previous domestic issues and was separated at the time of the incident.”
The shooting happened shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot of a Shell station and McDonald’s on Cleveland Highway.
Chitwood said in a press release that Ball had pulled up to a gas pump when Christopher Whitmore parked behind her.
“They both exited their cars and both walked to the back door of the 2010 Dodge Mr. Whitmore was driving,” Chitwood said, adding that Whitmore “pulled out a handgun and shot their son while he was sitting in the back seat of the Dodge…then immediately pointed the gun at Ms. Ball and shot her, and then shot himself.”
All three died at the scene, which is about 100 miles north of Atlanta.
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