Police are searching for at least one armed suspect in the deaths of a Georgia shooting range and gun store owner, as well as his wife and grandson, authorities said Saturday.
The robbery occurred Friday afternoon, the Grantville Police Department said on Facebook. When police arrived at the scene at approximately 8:00 p.m., they discovered the bodies of the owner of the Lock Stock & Barrel shooting range, his wife, and his grandson.
Grantville police identified the victims as shooting range owner Thomas Hawk, 75, his wife Evelyn, 75, and grandson Luke, 17, WSB-TV reported.
Police Chief Steve Whitlock said the Hawk family was well known and respected in their small, close-knit community. The Hawks had managed Lock Stock & Barrel for almost 30 years. His grandson was on vacation and helping his grandparents in the store.
“This is a blow to everyone in the community,” Whitlock told The Associated Press. “We are doing everything we can to resolve this.”
Whitlock explained that detectives believe the robbery and shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. Friday, which is when the shooting range usually closes. He added that Hawk’s son, Richard, stopped by the store and was the person who found the victims.
As of Saturday morning, there were no suspects and no arrests had been made, he said. Detectives believe up to 40 firearms and the security camera at the location were also stolen.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is on the case, but when contacted Saturday they directed all questions to Grantville police. The Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was also contacted regarding the theft of the weapons. Whitlock said he was grateful to other law enforcement agencies for their help in the investigation.
“We are a small town, 12 policemen. I’ve been here eight years and I’ve never had to investigate anything like this. It is difficult for us. The crime rate is very, very low,” he commented.