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According to the
Columbia County Sheriff's Office, the suspect identified as
Wayne Anthony Hawes, 50, apparently snapped after learning his
wife planned to divorce him.
A man, believed to be the suspect, was later found dead of a
self-inflicted gunshot at Hawes' home after authorities were
called to the scene of a fire at the residence, according to
reports.
Four victims died at the scenes in Appling, Georgia, about 20
miles northwest of Augusta, and a fifth died in hospital, WRDW
television station and other media reported citing coroner
Vernon Collins.
The Augusta Chronicle reported that a male and two females were
found at one location while a male and female victim were found
at the scene of a second shooting.
The victims were all reported to have been known to the gunman.
Authorities could not be reached to confirm the reports.
The killings were the second set of U.S. mass murders on Friday
of an apparently domestic nature.
Eight members of the same family were shot to death
execution-style in four homes in Pike County, Ohio, and more
than 30 people have been questioned in the search for the killer
or killers, officials said on Friday.
"We don't know whether we're talking about one individual, or
two, or three or more," Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine told a
news conference.
The Ohio victims included seven adults and one juvenile, all
shot in the head, Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader and DeWine
said. Reader identified them as members of the Rohden family.
(Reporting by Chris Michaud; Editing by Robert Birsel and Tom
Hogue)
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