Cartersville Attorney Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide (UPDATED)

CARTERSVILLE, GA — A Cartersville attorney was killed Wednesday afternoon in what authorities describe as a murder-suicide that's stunned the Bartow County community.

Officers with the Cartersville Police Department were dispatched around 1:30 p.m. June 20 to the law offices of Antonio Mari at 605 North Tennessee Street. According to Bartow County Coroner Joel Guyton, the body found inside the office has been identified as Mari, a lawyer who specialized in family law, divorces, DUI cases and bankruptcies.

Cartersville police spokesperson Lt. Mike Bettikofer said Mari was found with one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives determined Mari was shot by Walter Radford, who fled the scene in a late model Ford pickup truck.

With the help of the Bartow County Sheriff's Office, Cartersville officers located the truck at a home at 68 Willow Bend Drive in unincorporated Cartersville. Officers and deputies made forced entry into the home and found Radford dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Bettikofer added.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation assisted Cartersville police in its investigation, the lieutenant added.

Mari was representing Redford's wife, who was seeking a divorce from her husband, according to Bartow County Superior Court records. The petition was heard Wednesday morning before Superior Court Judge Suzanne Smith.

News of the attorney's death has rocked the community. On its Facebook page, Cass High School said its "deepest sympathies go out to the Mari family."

"Mr. Antonio Mari was a great friend, teacher, mentor, and lawyer," the school added. "He will truly be missed."

Many people commented on the Cass High School post, with one resident stating Mari was "truly one of the greatest teachers of all time."

"I’m completely heartbroken and devastated," she added "Praying for his family!"

According to the law office's website, Mari graduated from the University of Georgia and spent 10 years teaching history in Bartow County high schools before establishing his law practice.

"So heartbreaking," another resident wrote on the Cass High School post. "He will be missed. He made an impact on many students, myself included."

This is a developing story, so return to Patch for updates.

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Credit: Cass High School