About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 2018)
LOCATSOUTHEAST The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Saturday, November 3, 2018 7A FLORIDA Police: 3 dead, including shooter, at yoga studio Police investigators work the scene of a shooting Friday, Nov. 2, in Tallahassee, Fla. A shooter killed two people and critically wounded five others at a yoga studio in Florida’s capital before killing himself Friday, officials said. BY GARY FINEOUT AND BRENDAN FARRINGTON Associated Press TALLAHASSEE — A gun man killed two people and wounded five others at a yoga studio in Florida’s capi tal before killing himself Fri day evening, officials said. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo told report ers Friday night that the man shot six people and pistol- whipped another after walk ing into the studio, which is part of a small Tallahassee shopping center. The suspect then fatally shot himself, DeLeo said. Authorities have not identi fied the shooter or the vic tims. The conditions of the other victims are unclear. DeLeo said police are asking for anyone who saw something unusual around the time of the shooting to contact police. He said the shooter acted alone and authorities are investigat ing possible motives. He declined to say what kind of gun the shooter had. “We’re all very saddened and shocked by the events that occurred, but it’s impor tant that people understand that there is no immediate threat outside of what has already occurred this eve ning,” DeLeo said. Melissa Hutchinson said she helped treat a “pro fusely” bleeding man who rushed into a bar after the incident. She said three peo ple from the studio ran in, and they were told there was an active shooter. “It was a shocking moment something hap pened like this,” Hutchinson said. The people who came in were injured, including the bleeding man who was pistol-whipped while trying to stop the shooter. They told her the shooter kept com ing in and out of the studio. When he loaded his gun, people started pounding the windows of the studio to warn people. City Commissioner Scott Maddox was on the scene. He said on Facebook, “In my public service career I have had to be on some bad scenes. This is the worst. Please pray.” Elle Welling said she was leaving a liquor store across the street from the shop ping center and saw at least three people loaded into ambulances. “You don’t think about TORI SCHNEIDER I Associated Press this in Tallahassee and now you have to,” said Well ing, 26, who lives in the neighborhood. The plaza is home to popu lar restaurants, a jewelry store, a framing shop, a hair salon and other businesses. Erskin Wesson, 64, said he was eating dinner with his family at a restaurant located below the yoga stu dio when they heard the gun shots above them. “We just heard ‘pow, pow, pow, pow,”’ Wesson said. “It sounded like a limb falling on a tin roof and rolling.” 1 Hunter DEPUTIES ■ Continued from 1A The incident dates back to the Oct. 24 funeral proces sion for Gwinnett County police officer Antwan Toney, who was killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle Oct. 20 in Snellville. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Derreck Booth said 50 deputies volunteered to direct traffic so that Gwinnett County officers could attend Toney’s funeral. At Ga. 124 and Ga. 20, two deputies blocked the intersection so the proces sion could proceed when they spotted a pickup truck moving in and out of the procession. Booth said the driver, later identified as Hunter, asked to turn left on Ga. 124. “He told deputies he hadn’t intended to get into the procession, and he con tinued asking to make the turn. The deputies politely told the man he couldn’t turn until the procession had passed. The man identified himself as a county commissioner and became agitated when the deputies returned to attention,” Booth wrote in a news release. According to one of the officer’s statements, the man in the truck reportedly said in reference to the other officer he “needed to get his a- back to Hall County.” The other officer wrote: “I was bothered by the encounter and the obvious lack of respect and rever ence for the situation by a supposed commissioner so I googled Gwinnett County Commissioners on my phone. Tommy Hunter’s picture appeared,” and he recognized Hunter as the driver of the truck. Couch and Hunter spoke later, when Hunter claimed the deputies “were rude and disrespectful to him as a commissioner in his home county and that they should have allowed him to pass,” Booth said. “He felt, and he conveyed to me when he spoke with me on the phone, that basically he was entitled by his position in his county to be able to travel that roadway that day, but the rest of Gwinnett County citizens were showing their respect,” Couch said in a statement. Couch contacted Gwinnett Commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash as a courtesy regarding the situation. Couch said the complaint is “unfounded.” “They were not in fact rude, and they were not dis respectful in any form or fashion that day. In fact, I’ve very proud of them, and I thank all of the deputies who volunteered to go show their honor and respect to Offi cer Toney, his family and the Gwinnett County Police Department,” Couch said in a statement. Hunter did not respond to an email sent after hours Friday, Nov. 2. OBITUARIES Florence Mae Whitlow Skinner Died Nov. 2,2018 Florence Mae Whitlow Skinner, 86 of Gainesville passed away Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Bell-Minor Nursing Home. Born in Forsyth County, Mrs. Skinner had lived in Hall County for most of her life. She was the daughter of the late Cliff and Min nie Grier Whitlow. Mrs. Skinner was retired from Warren-Featherbone Company, and was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Dawson County. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Louise and Randall Jones; son and daughter-in-law, Lamar and Cathy Skinner, all of Gainesville; grand children, Jennifer and Jeremy Horner, Clermont; Kevin and Jennifer Skin ner, Gainesville; and one great grandson on the way; sister and brother-in-law, Melba and Mike Helton, Hoschton; sister-in-law, Pauline Skinner, Gainesville. A number of nieces and nephews also survive. Mrs. Skinner is preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Mark Skinner and daughter, Margaret Ann Skinner. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, in the chapel of Little & Davenport Funeral Home. Rev. Winfred Skinner will officiate. Interment will follow in the Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery in Dawson County. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday from noon until the funeral hour. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that memorial contributions please be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the American Cancer Society, 2565 Thompson Bridge Road, Ste. 114, Gainesville, Ga. 30501. The family would like to say a special “Thank You” to the staff of Bell-Minor Nursing Home for the love and care given to Mrs. Skinner. Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, Gainesville Sign the online guest book at gainesville- times.com. The Times, Gainesville, Ga. Nov. 3,2018 DEATH NOTICES Donna Faye Coleman Died Oct. 22, 2018 Donna Faye Coleman, 75, of Gainesville died Monday, Oct. 22. Memorial service, 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, funeral home chapel. Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville. Charles Emerson Crane Jr. Died Nov. 1, 2018 Charles Emerson Crane Jr., 74, of Rock- mart died Thursday. Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, Gainesville. Roland H. Force Died Nov. 1, 2018 Roland H. Force, 71, of Gainesville died Thursday. Visitation, 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, funeral home. Ward’s Funeral Home, Gainesville. Sarah Evone Johnson Henrichs Died Oct. 31, 2018 Sarah Evone Johnson Henrichs, 79, of Cumming died Wednesday. Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming. Kenneth Nelms July 9, 1955-Oct. 28, 2018 Kenneth Nelms, 63, of Demorest died Sun day. Habersham Crematory, Cornelia. Barbara Odom Smith Died Oct. 31, 2018 Barbara Odom Smith of Gainesville died jl Weekend 11 of Wors hip For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. - 1 Peter 3:12 (NIV) www. chastainagency. com HOURS Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00 770-297-1166 235 Pearl Nix Pkwy, Suite 8 Gainesville, GA 30501 HARDY CHEVROLET, INC. Wayne Alexander & Personnel 770-532-4389 HARDY Special thanks to our sponsors who make this page possible. For more information about advertising in this space, call 770-532-1234 or email classifieds @gainesvilletimes.com A McEver Road United Methodist Church SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP Traditional at 9 | Contemporary at 11 Nursery provided at all services. Loving Christ. Loving People. Helping People Love Christ. 3606 McEver Rd, Oakwood, Ga (770) 532-3160 /\tlanta pyoad ( HIJIU H OF CHRIST Sunday Bible Study 9:30A& 6:00P Sunday Worship 10:30A Wednesday Bible Study 7:00P 902 Atlanta Hwy, Gainesville 770-536-4284 www.atlantaroad.org Wednesday. Funeral service, 12 p.m. Satur day, Nov. 3, funeral home chapel. Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, Gainesville. Steve Dwayne Vandegraft Died Nov. 1,2018 Steve “Duke” Dwayne Vandegraft, 61, of Gainesville died Thursday. Funeral service, 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, funeral home chapel. Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville. Obituary information Death notices are printed free as a public service by The Times. More information can be provided in paid obituaries. The rate is $50 per 100 words (or any part thereof). There is an additional mandatory $40 fee for online services, which includes a guest book that allows family and friends to post condolences. Deadline for publication is 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. Death notices and obituaries are accepted only from funeral homes. They should be emailed to obits@ gainesvilletimes.com. All submissions will appear in The Times and online at gainesvilletimes.com. For additional information, call 770-718- 3419 or 800-395-5005, extension 3419, between 3 and 6 p.m. weekdays. gainesvilletimes.com Honestly local. Learn about the ghosts who inhabit Gainesville from two believers, Kathy Amos and Gail Hogan, who claim to have experiences with at least three of them. Listen to all Hall Tales Podcast episodes here: www.gainesvilletimes.com/halltales
