The suspect in the mass shooting that left 4 dead in Hampton, Georgia, dies.

Police Respond to Shooting in Hampton, Georgia

Hampton, Georgia – On Saturday, July 15, 2023, the police responded to a shooting incident in Hampton, Georgia. Andre Longmore, the man accused of fatally shooting four people, was killed in a shootout with the police, according to Sheriff Reginald Scandrett of Henry County.

During a press conference held on Sunday, Sheriff Scandrett announced that the authorities had tracked down the suspect and engaged him in a confrontation. “The suspect returned fire and fled,” said the sheriff, adding that the authorities pursued him and he “pulled out a gun again.” A second shootout ensued between Longmore and the authorities, resulting in Longmore’s death and two injured officers, according to Scandrett. One of the officers is in critical condition and was airlifted to a hospital. “He was shot in the back,” said the sheriff. “He is conscious, breathing, and speaking.”

Sheriff Scandrett praised the officers and called it an “absolute honor” to serve alongside them. He reassured the community that they can “breathe a little easier, sleep a little better tonight. This monster is off our streets.”

Longmore is accused of fatally shooting four people, which triggered a city-wide pursuit in Atlanta as police departments across the metropolitan region worked to locate him.

The mass shooting was reported around 10:45 a.m. ET on Saturday, said Hampton Police Chief James Turner at a press conference on Saturday afternoon. The incident took place in a area near the Dogwood Lakes subdivision in Hampton, about 46 kilometers south of Atlanta. The area consists of lakefront homes and a nearby Baptist church.

On Sunday, the police identified the victims as three men and one woman, all in their sixties: Scott Leavitt, 67; his wife, Shirley Leavitt, 66; Steve Blizzard, 65; and Ronald Jeffers, 66. Turner said all four victims lived in the subdivision. Authorities said the suspect, who also lived in the Dogwood Lakes community, stole Blizzard’s vehicle, one of the victims.

Authorities offered a $10,000 reward for any information leading to Longmore’s arrest. “The suspect is known to be armed and dangerous,” said Scandrett on Saturday, promising to “hunt down” Longmore. The police said on Saturday that the motive was unclear and they did not believe Longmore had any connection to the victims.

During a press conference, Mayor Ann Tarpley of Hampton said on Saturday, “Today is a sad and somber occasion,” and pledged that the person responsible would be held accountable and “brought to justice.” “We ask that you uplift the families and victims in your prayers, thoughts, and provide them with the privacy they may need to overcome this horrible tragedy,” she continued. “We have full confidence in our law enforcement that they will fulfill their duties and bring the suspect to justice.”

The shooting is one of at least 387 mass shootings in the United States in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The archive, like CNN, defines a mass shooting as one that injured or killed four or more people, excluding the attacker.

Source