Five dead after late-night mass shooting in Georgia home

Five people were gunned down in a late-night murder-suicide at a home in Georgia.

Cops responded to a 911 call of an “active shooter” made by one of the victims at a home in the Touchland Woods neighborhood of Douglas around 11:09 p.m. Friday, Douglas Police Chief Brannen Pruette said at a press conference Saturday.

Four adults were found dead inside the home and a fifth was rushed to the Coffee Regional Medical Center where they later died, police said.

“Investigators believe this incident was an apparent murder-suicide involving immediate family members who reside together in the home,” Pruette said.

The gunman killed four others before turning the gun on himself, according to local outlet Douglas Now. 

“At this time, investigators have found no indication of an ongoing threat to the public associated with this incident,” the chief confirmed.

A few hours before the shooting, a 911 call was placed by a woman at the same residence — identified as “the wife, the female victim,” — complaining that her husband was in the house smoking, officials said. 

“She said he was killing her with the smoke, from what I understand,” Pruette said. 

The woman was transported to a local hospital for treatment but no further details were immediately available. 

“Last night was a terrible night for our community,” Coffee County Sheriff Fred Cole said. “Five individuals lost their lives and their family and friends woke up hurting today.”

“It ain’t every day we see things like this, and it’s heavy on their hearts, also. This was a hard scene for everybody involved,” the Sheriff said. “We are a close community, and we’re going to take care of each other. We’re going to get through this together.”

City of Douglas Mayor Tony Paulk called the murder-suicide “especially heartbreaking” as it occured during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“This tragedy reminds us that domestic violence is not something that happens only in other communities — it can happen right here among our neighbors, friends, and families,” the mayor said. 

“Douglas is more than a city; we are neighbors, friends, and a community that stands together, especially in times of tragedy,” Paulk said. 

There have been mass shootings in Georgia for three consecutive weekends, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. 

Tragically, Friday’s shooting is the “second incident that we’ve had in the last three months of murder-suicide,” City Manager Charles Davis said. 

“Domestic violence doesn’t know race, it doesn’t know religion, it doesn’t know geographic location,” Davis said. “The City of Douglas extends its deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the families, friends, and loved ones of this situation.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those grieving during this incredibly difficult time, as well as our community as it processes this heartbreaking incident,” he said.