ATLANTA, GA – In the early hours of Friday morning, a tragic shooting unfolded at a local Walmart in Atlanta, leaving one employee dead and another critically injured. The suspect, who was working at the store, allegedly stepped outside around 1:30 a.m. to retrieve a handgun, re-entered, and opened fire on his co-workers, according to police reports.
Authorities stated that the suspect’s first victim was a fellow employee inside the store. Afterward, he targeted another colleague who was outside, leaving the second victim fighting for life in a local hospital. The suspect then fled to a nearby residence where he broke in and fatally shot a 19-year-old woman, Akeela Clarke, allegedly in front of her family.
Family members identified Clarke as an employee of the Walmart, and they shared that the shooter violently forced his way into their home. Clarke’s sister managed to hide during the incident, according to reports from a local television station.
The Newton County sheriff’s office clarified that this was not an indiscriminate shooting spree but rather a targeted attack on individuals known to the suspect. Although the victims were described as acquaintances, authorities have yet to disclose the motive behind the killings.
The suspect’s flight ended 150 miles away in Aiken, South Carolina, where he was apprehended by law enforcement. The arrest followed a tense standoff during which the suspect reportedly shot himself. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment.
The Georgia State Patrol and Aiken County Sheriff’s Office collaborated closely to capture the suspect. Sergeant Jack Redlinger confirmed that the investigation remains active, with multiple law enforcement agencies involved.
This incident marks yet another violent episode at the Covington Walmart, which previously witnessed a shooting in its parking lot last October. The community is left grappling with the shock and loss as investigations continue.