Authorities say three people are dead and two children injured in an apparent murder-suicide in Georgia.
- Authorities: Tampa man drives to Georgia, kills woman and her sister
- Man ID'd as Kelly McDonald Jr.
- Also, a 16-year child was injured
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said at a news conference Thursday that Kelly McDonald Jr. drove from Tampa to north Georgia's Lumpkin County, fatally shot a woman and her sister before taking his own life.
The woman, later identified as McDonald's ex-wife, Kelly Garrison, 35, was fleeing a domestic violence situation. She went on leave from her teaching job at Corbett Preparatory School in Carrollwood seven weeks ago to seek refuge in the home of her sister, Tracy Russell.
In December 2017, McDonald tried to strangle Garrison in her Tampa apartment. Garrison's neighbor, John Wise, told us he heard screams coming from Garrison's apartment that night.
"The door was locked. I could hear a scuffle inside," Wise explained. "I kicked in the door. A man was choking her. I could hear her gasping for air."
Wise was able to fight off McDonald that night, and later went to court with Garrison to testify about the incident. Garrison was granted an injunction, and at that time a warrant was issued for McDonald's arrest, but he was never taken into custody.
McDonald had been spotted around the school where Garrison worked.
Authorities said Kelly McDonald Jr. drove from Tampa to north Georgia's Lumpkin County, fatally shot a woman and her sister and took his own life.
Jarrard says three children - ages 16, 13 and 2 - were in the home where the shooting occurred. The oldest, who was shot, was taken with the youngest to a hospital.
Their conditions weren't released. The 13-year-old left the scene to get help and is now with relatives.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.