Walmart employee kills 2 co-workers, injures 1 in shooting spree, GA cops say
A Walmart employee is accused of killing two colleagues and critically injuring a third in a deadly shooting spree, Georgia deputies told news outlets.
The suspect, who wasn’t named, was caught in South Carolina hours after the April 10 rampage, which occurred at two separate locations, according to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies got a call at 1:30 a.m. Friday about a shooting at the supercenter in Covington, the department said in a news release. Only employees were inside, as the store had closed for the night.
Investigators said one of the workers left, retrieved a gun and fatally shot an acquaintance inside the store, deputies said. On his way out, the accused gunman shot another colleague outside the business.
That person was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to deputies.
Authorities said the accused gunman then broke into a nearby home and shot a third person, killing them.
“We’re heartbroken by what’s happened,” a Walmart spokesperson told McClatchy News in a statement. “There’s no place for violence in our stores. We’re focused on taking care of our associates and supporting law enforcement with their investigation.”
Deputies didn’t give a possible motive but said the shootings weren’t random.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” they said in the release. “The suspect specifically targeted individuals they knew.”
The accused gunman fled to Aiken, South Carolina, where he was stopped by local deputies, WSB-TV reported, citing the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office. A brief standoff ensued and the man shot himself, authorities told the station.
His condition wasn’t known as of Friday afternoon.
Authorities haven’t released the victims’ names, but the family of the woman killed during the break-in identified her as 19-year-old Akeela Clark, WAGA reported.
Relatives said the suspect kicked down the door and shot Clark in front of her mother, according to the station. The accused shooter didn’t injure her mom or younger sister, who hid in a closet.
Authorities said the shooting investigation is “active and ongoing.”
Covington is about a 30-mile drive southeast from downtown Atlanta.
This story was originally published April 11, 2025 at 12:20 PM with the headline "Walmart employee kills 2 co-workers, injures 1 in shooting spree, GA cops say."