Man, 26, and woman, 20, shot dead in Georgia Walmart murder-suicide identified as James Wyatt Nicholas Norton and Zoey Nicole Messenger – as terrified shoppers describe running for their lives
- The shooting happened Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at a Walmart in Hiram, Georgia
- Police say a man and a woman both died in a ‘murder-suicide’
- The police chief confirmed that Zoey Nicole Messenger, 20, and James Wyatt Nicholas Norton, 26, were killed
Two young people were killed in what police said was a murder-suicide shooting at a Georgia Walmart as shoppers described it as running for their lives.
The police chief confirmed that Zoey Nicole Messenger, 20, and James Wyatt Nicholas Norton, 26, were the two people killed in the murder-suicide. Norton worked for Walmart and Messenger also turned out to be an employee at the supercenter.
Norton and Messenger died at the Hiram store after the shooting on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Investigators said the man opened fire on the woman. The pair had previously dated, but Messenger ended their relationship.
Norton went to Messenger in one of the store’s aisles after 7 p.m. and started talking to her. Police said the conversation did not seem angry, but Norton suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Messenger and himself.
First responders rushed to the scene and discovered the pair had each suffered at least one gunshot wound.
A shooting broke out at a Walmart in Georgia, which police described as a “murder-suicide.” A man and a woman were killed; one of them was an employee of the store
Police have not yet released any details about the victims, but it is believed they were previously in a relationship
They were rushed to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.
No one else was injured in the shooting, but shoppers in the store were terrified at the time.
Devani Lopez was shopping at the store when the shooting broke out.
He said, ‘As soon as I heard the second shot, I ran straight for the exit,
‘I heard the gunshot coming from my left side, so I ran to the right exit,
‘I ran straight to the car and saw everyone running like they were running for their lives – everyone was so panicked and scared.
‘I immediately ran to my car. I didn’t even drive away. I just hid in the back seat and I just see everyone standing at the entrance.”
Hiram Police Chief Mike Turner said, “What it appears to be is a known shooting where both parties knew each other. This was not an active shooter. This was a person who knew another person, there was some sort of past relationship,”
Other customers heard the gunfire erupt and described having to run for their lives to hide in cars after the terrifying incident
The Walmart is located in Hiram, Georgia, a small town about 20 miles northwest of Atlanta
Turner said: “They were both younger people.”
The police chief added the scene must have been terrifying for people shopping and picking up takeout
He said: ‘Not just for the victim himself, but for the other people in there – the fear that must have been instilled by the event.’
Walmart issued a statement: “We are heartbroken by what happened tonight at our Hiram store. Our priority at this time is the safety of our employees and customers. The store remains closed while we work with police in their investigation.”