On Wednesday, September 20, around 7:30 pm, a shooting was reported at the Walmart Super Center situated on Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway in Hiram, Georgia, according to Hiram Police.
Police Chief Mike Turner communicated that preliminary findings suggested the tragic event was a murder-suicide, involving a young man and woman who had an earlier connection.
It was further clarified by Turner that the individuals were familiar with each other, and this was not a random act of violence.
After arriving at the scene, officers discovered both victims with gunshot injuries. They were taken promptly to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, but both succumbed to their injuries and were declared dead.
Eyewitnesses present during the incident at the Walmart recounted their quick reaction to exit the store as they heard the shots.
In the aftermath of the incident, Walmart expressed its condolences and reassured its commitment to assist in the investigation. As the investigation is underway, the store will remain closed for an indefinite period.
There have been similar incidents at other Walmart stores in the US. In 2022, a tragic mass shooting in Chesapeake, Virginia, resulted in seven fatalities. Notably, a prior shooting near a Walmart in Marietta, Georgia, is relatively close, about 15 miles, to the recent Hiram event.