Five people are dead in an apparent Douglas, Georgia murder-suicide at a home in the city’s Touchland Woods neighborhood, after police responded to a 911 call reporting an “active shooter” late Friday night. Four adults were found dead inside the home; a fifth person was rushed to Coffee Regional Medical Center and later died. Douglas Police Chief Brannen Pruette said investigators believe the deaths were “an apparent murder-suicide involving immediate family members who reside together in the home.”
TL;DR: Police answered an “active shooter” 911 call at about 11:09 p.m. Friday, October 9, at a Touchland Woods home in Douglas, Georgia. Four adults were found dead inside; a fifth victim later died at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Investigators believe a gunman killed four family members before turning the gun on himself. Hours earlier, a woman at the same address had called 911 to complain about her husband smoking inside the house.
The 911 Calls
The deadly night began, in retrospect, hours before the shooting. A woman at the same Touchland Woods residence — identified by police as “the wife, the female victim” — called 911 earlier to complain that her husband was in the house smoking. She told dispatchers he was “killing her with the smoke,” according to the New York Post. She was taken to a hospital.
Then, at about 11:09 p.m. Friday, a second 911 call came from the home — this one reporting an “active shooter,” and made by one of the victims, police said.
What Police Found at the Home
When officers arrived, they found four adults dead inside the house. A fifth person was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center but later died, bringing the toll to five. Chief Pruette said investigators believe a gunman killed four others before turning the gun on himself — “an apparent murder-suicide involving immediate family members who reside together in the home.” The chief confirmed there was no ongoing threat to the public.
A Community Shaken
Coffee County Sheriff Fred Cole called it a terrible night for the community, as word of the killings spread through the small south Georgia city. Douglas, the seat of Coffee County, is a close-knit community where news of violence inside a family home hit especially hard. Local officials said victim support services were being made available to relatives and neighbors affected by the tragedy.
Police have not said what may have led up to the shooting beyond the earlier 911 call about the smoking dispute, and the investigation remains open. Officials said autopsies and forensic examinations would be part of the ongoing review. Law enforcement officials note that domestic disputes can escalate with little warning, and investigators will be reviewing the earlier call as part of the timeline.
Featured image: Gwinnett Daily Post
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Douglas, Georgia?
Five people died in what police describe as an apparent murder-suicide at a home in the Touchland Woods neighborhood of Douglas, Georgia, late Friday night, October 9.
How many people died?
Five. Four adults were found dead inside the home, and a fifth person died later at Coffee Regional Medical Center.
When did police respond?
Police responded to a 911 call reporting an ‘active shooter’ at about 11:09 p.m. Friday, October 9. The call was made by one of the victims.
Where in Douglas did this happen?
At a home in the Touchland Woods neighborhood of Douglas, Georgia, in Coffee County.
Who were the victims?
Police have described them as immediate family members who lived together in the home. Their names had not been released in the initial reporting.
What was the earlier 911 call about?
Hours before the shooting, a woman at the same address — identified as ‘the wife, the female victim’ — called 911 to complain that her husband was smoking inside the house, saying he was ‘killing her with the smoke.’ She was taken to a hospital.
Is there still a danger to the public?
No. Douglas Police Chief Brannen Pruette confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.
What did local officials say?
Coffee County Sheriff Fred Cole called it a terrible night for the community. Chief Pruette said investigators believe it was an apparent murder-suicide involving immediate family members.
