Georgia Shooting Leaves Multiple People Dead Inside Apartment

A gunman opened fire on three people inside an apartment before turning the weapon on himself in Georgia in the early hours of Tuesday.

A man and a woman were both killed, along with the shooter, while another woman was rushed to hospital. A 2-month-old baby and another woman, who had been in the home at the time, were both unharmed, police said. The surviving woman is believed to have been the gunman's partner. Her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, according to local news station WSB-TV 2.

On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which equates to more than 10 million attacks each year.

One in seven women and one in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner, according to the organization. There has been a rise in domestic violence and murder-suicides in recent years, with some experts suggesting Covid-19 stresses and lockdowns created a "pandemic within a pandemic."

Police were called to reports of a domestic disturbance at around 1:00 a.m. at The Views apartment complex, in unincorporated Snellville, Gwinnett County, northeast of Atlanta. Officers found the apartment strewn with bodies when they arrived.

Investigators are now working on the case and have sealed off the crime scene. Several police vehicles could be seen surrounding the property, while crime-scene investigators were seen heading into the property.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

A Gwinnett Police spokesperson emailed a statement about the attack to Newsweek upon request and identified the victims. It emerged that the shooter and his partner were due to appear in court on Tuesday, but the nature of the case was not specified.

The spokesperson said: "This incident is being investigated as a double murder and suicide.

"The homicide victims have been identified as Corey Jones (age 52, Snellville) and his wife, Dana Farmer (age 56, Snellville). The couple resided at the home where the shooting took place.

"The shooter (deceased) has been identified as Frank Wilburn Jr. (age 27, Loganville). Rosella Jones (age 29, Loganville) is still being treated for gunshot injuries at a local hospital. It is believed that Rosella Jones and Frank Wilburn Jr. were in a relationship. The couple was set to have a court hearing later today.

"There were two other people in the apartment when the shooting occurred. Jones's mother (age 46) and a 2-month-old girl were uninjured during the shooting.

"This appears to be an isolated domestic-related incident."

Anyone seeking help after suffering abuse in their home should call The National Domestic Violence Hotline, a free and confidential hotline available 24/7 that can be reached on 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224. The Hotline also provides information on local resources. For more information, visit thehotline.org