MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Captain Andy Shedd with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office said as cited by WRDW-TV on Friday that four of the victims died at the scene, while the fifth one died at a local hospital.
Shootings occurred at two separate locations in Appling, a community in Columbia County, on Friday. According to Shedd, the shootings were carried out by one gunman.
A spokesperson with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office said by the broadcaster that the suspect, Wayne Anthony Hawes, might have gone on a shooting spree after finding out that his wife was divorcing him.
Police believe that following the mass shooting the suspect set his home on Rosemont Rd on fire and allegedly killed himself, the media added.
