Hiram Man Accused Of Killing Ex-Girlfriend Turns Gun On Himself: PD

HIRAM, GA — Two people are dead after a shooting Wednesday night inside of a Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway Walmart, Hiram Police said Thursday.

The shooting happened around 7:15 p.m. When officers arrived, they found people running from the store. Police said Hiram residents Zoey Nicole Messenger, 20, and James Wyatt Nicholas Norton, 26, were found with gunshot wounds and a nearby handgun in an aisle. Norton worked at the Walmart, police said.

The Paulding County Sheriff's Office gave medical assistance and additional support while officers searched for more potential victims. None were found, police said.

Messenger and Norton, in critical condition, were taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where they both died of their injuries, police said. They had recently ended a relationship.

Police identified Norton as the accused shooter. Police said he approached Messenger, engaged in a brief conversation with her that did not "appear to be angry or animated," and then, pulled out a handgun and shot her. Norton was accused of then taking his own life.

"The Hiram Police Department has no record of any previous calls from either person about domestic violence or threats prior to this incident. ... The Hiram Police Department would like to extend its deepest condolences to both families. Domestic violence is a senseless crime and should be reported through 911. If not, assistance is always available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233," police said in a news release.