Sheriff: Man shot randomly at passing cars injuring 2

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Gunshots broke the typical hum of a busy Hall County highway midday Friday as deputies said a gunman randomly opened fire on passing motorists.

It happened along Georgia Highway 365 near White Hall Road around noon. Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch said their 911 call center started to be inundated with reports of shots being fired at their vehicles but didn’t know where the gunfire was originating.

Deputies who responded to the scene said they discovered two people shot. The victims were only identified as a 72-year-old man who suffered a gunshot wound to his hip and a 54-year-old man who suffered a gunshot wound to his leg

Both were rushed to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville in stable condition.

Deputies also spotted something suspicious. The sheriff said it was a vehicle pulling out of the woods. Georgia State Patrol troopers, who joined deputies at the scene, tried to pull over the car, but it took off.

After a short chase, the car came to a stop in the median of the busy highway. Deputies said the driver appeared to have shot himself. He was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital where he later died.

Investigators believe the shootings were random, but are continuing their investigation.

The names of those involved have not yet been released.

Deputies are asking anyone who was driving along Highway 365 midday Friday are being asked to check their vehicles for gunshots. Anyone who has damage or any further information in the case is being asked to call the Hall County Sheriff’s Office at 770-536-8812.