Hart County Sheriff, GBI Investigating Double-Homicide, Person of Interest Released

Two people are dead in Hart County, victims of a double homicide Monday afternoon and the search for a suspect continues.

According to Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland, it happened on Redwine Church Road early Monday afternoon.

“At about 1:10 Monday, the Sheriff’s office received a report of a shooting on Redwine Church Rd in Hart County,” he said in a press release issued Monday night. “Upon arrival, it was determined that a double homicide had occurred. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations and Georgia State Patrol are assisting the Hart County Sheriff’s Office in this investigation.”

According to initial reports, one person died at the scene, the second victim was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where she died. The names of the victims have not been released.

At about 3p Monday afternoon, law enforcement rushed to South Hart Elementary School where a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle the suspect was driving was located.  The driver of that vehicle was taken into custody and questioned at the Sheriff’s Department as a person of interest.

However, Sheriff Cleveland later announced that the person was not the suspect they were looking for, was released, and eliminated from their investigation.

The investigation is still ongoing with the assistance of agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Athens office.

Meantime, Hart County School Superintendent Jay Floyd issued a statement Monday evening regarding the incident Monday afternoon.

“During afternoon dismissal today, the Hart County Sheriff’s Office contacted the school system to make us aware that a possible suspect had a child at South Hart Elementary School,” he said. “The principal was notified and the child was isolated. When the suspect came to the school to pick up the child, he was arrested without incident by the School Resource Officer. Thank you to the Administration at South Hart for a quick response, and thank you for open communication with the Sheriff’s Office. No further comments can be made at this time due to the ongoing investigation by the GBI. Please contact the Sheriff’s office or the GBI for questions.”

WLHR News is continuing to follow this story and bring you more information as it becomes available.