The 26-year-old man and 20-year-old woman shot in a murder-suicide at Georgia Walmart are identified as James Wyatt Nicholas Norton and Zoey Nicole Messenger – as terrified shoppers describe running for their lives
- The shooting occurred at a Walmart in Hiram, Georgia at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
- According to police, a man and a woman died in the “murder-suicide.”
- The police chief confirmed that Zoey Nicole Messenger, 20, and James Wyatt Nicholas Norton, 26, were killed
A man shot his ex-girlfriend before killing himself in a murder-suicide at a Walmart in Georgia, sending terrified shoppers fleeing.
The police chief named the two people Zoey Nicole Messenger (20) and James Wyatt Nicholas Norton (26).
Norton was an employee at Walmart’s Hiram store and Messenger also appeared to have worked for the company, although it is unclear whether she worked at that particular store.
The couple had previously dated, but Messenger ended the relationship.
Both died on Wednesday around 7:30 p.m. Investigators said Norton walked up to Messenger in one of the store’s aisles after 7 p.m. and began talking to her. They said the conversation didn’t appear to be angry, but Norton suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Messenger and himself.
Two people died at a Walmart in Georgia after a man shot his ex-girlfriend and then himself in what police described as a murder-suicide
Police chiefs have confirmed that Zoey Messenger, 20, and James Wyatt Nicholas Norton, 26, died in the shooting
First responders rushed to the scene and discovered the couple, each suffering from at least one gunshot wound
They were taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital but were pronounced dead.
No one was injured in the shooting, but shoppers in the store were panicking at the time.
Devani Lopez was shopping when the shooting broke out.
He said: “As soon as I heard the second shot, I rained straight to the exit,
“I heard the shot coming from my left side, so I ran to the right exit,
“I ran straight towards the car to see everyone running for their lives – everyone was so panicked and scared.
“I ran straight towards my car, didn’t even start, just hid in the back seat, and suddenly I saw everyone gathered in the entrance.”
To date, there have been no domestic violence calls to police from Messenger or Smith or previous threats. Both were from Hiram, Georgia.
Other shoppers heard the gunfire and reported running for their lives and hiding in cars after the horrific incident
Hiram is a small town about 20 miles northwest of Atlanta
Hiram Police Chief Mike Turner said, “This appears to be a known shooting where both parties knew each other. “This was not an active shooter. “A person knew another person, there was some kind of previous relationship,”
Turner said: “They were both younger people.”
The police chief added that the scene must have been frightening for people shopping and picking up items
He said: “Not just for the victim himself, but for the other people there – the fear that must have been aroused by the event.”
Walmart issued a statement: “We are heartbroken about what happened at our Hiram store this evening.” Our priority at this time is the safety of our associates and customers. “The store will remain closed while we work with law enforcement in their investigation.”