Murder-Suicide: Man shot and killed his girlfriend inside Walmart in Hiram, then took his own life

Update: The police chief has officially confirmed the identities of the individuals involved in the murder-suicide incident last night in Hiram, Paulding County, GA, as Zoey Nicole Messenger, aged 20, and James Wyatt Nicholas Norton, aged 26.

A male and a female lost their lives following a shooting incident inside a Walmart in Paulding County on Wednesday evening, as reported by Hiram Police.

The tragic event occurred at 4166 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway, the site of a Walmart Supercenter in Hiram.

Hiram Police Chief Michael Turner indicated that the incident seems to be a case of murder-suicide that transpired in close proximity to the pharmacy section.

The woman is identified as the victim, while the man is considered the suspect, according to Turner.

Turner mentioned that while there were other individuals present in the store, it seems that there were no other shoppers in close proximity to the victims. He noted that there are no eyewitnesses to the actual event.

The individuals involved were aged 20 and 26, though the medical examiner’s office did not specify which age corresponds to the man and which to the woman.

Presently, it remains unclear what events led up to the shooting or the nature of the relationship between the two victims.

The store is situated within the identical parking area as the Hiram Crossing shopping complex and is also in close proximity to a Subway, McDonald’s, and Jimmy John’s.

On Wednesday night, Walmart issued a statement regarding the shooting, stating:

“We’re heartbroken by what happened at our Hiram store tonight. Our priority, right now, is the safety of our associates and customers. The store will remain closed while we work with law enforcement during their investigation.”

This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available.