DeKalb County, Georgia — A late-night domestic incident led to the tragic deaths of a woman and a young girl and left a man hospitalized with serious injuries in a shooting that police initially labeled a murder-suicide. The events unfolded shortly after 1 a.m. on Friday at an apartment complex on Chatfield Drive.
According to law enforcement officials, officers responding to the scene discovered a girl, estimated to be over 10 years old, and a woman in her 30s fatally shot. The identities of the victims have not yet been disclosed pending notification of their families. Initial assessments suggested that the woman had shot both the girl and the injured man before turning the gun on herself.
However, after further investigation, detectives with the DeKalb County Police Department announced that their conclusions had changed. “Following thorough and diligent work by our officers, we have determined this was a double murder rather than a murder-suicide,” the department stated in a release.
The alleged shooter, identified as Roland Sukoo, 41, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Authorities have charged him with two counts of murder, indicating he will be processed into custody upon his recovery.
Details surrounding the domestic dispute that led to the violent outcome remain unclear, as police did not provide specifics regarding the relationships among those involved or the events leading up to the shooting.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are continuing to gather evidence and insights into the circumstances that prompted this tragic incident. Residents in the area expressed shock and sadness over what transpired within their community.
Local law enforcement is urging anyone with additional information to reach out as they continue their inquiries into this heartbreaking case.