National News
Highway Gunman Inspired by Parkland Suspect Wounds 3 and Kills Self
The Georgia gunman saw Nikolas Cruz as a hero and source of inspiration.
A Georgia gunman, who was allegedly influenced by Parkland, Fla., shooter Nikolas Cruz, shot at multiple cars on a highway before taking his own life.
Police identified the Georgia suspect as Rex Whitmire Harbour, a 26-year-old former student at the University of Georgia. Harbour fired at least 17 times and hit at least seven vehicles traveling northbound on Georgia 365 outside Atlanta on Friday.
The incident unfolded around noon. A woman called 911 when her 54-year-old husband was shot in the hip. Almost immediately, a flurry of callers reported hearing gunshots in the same vicinity.
Two other people were injured, but none of the injuries were life-threatening. A 73-year-old man was shot in the leg, and a woman suffered slight injury as a result of her windshield shattering.
Trail camera captured images of Hall Co highway shooter moving to position in wooded area before opening fire on passing cars. Full report on suspect LIVE at noon pic.twitter.com/5ZIGMGYixF
— Steve Gehlbach (@SteveGWSB) May 5, 2018
Police responded, setting up a perimeter. Deputies spotted a beige, 2003 Buick Century pulling out of the woodline near Tribble Gap Road. Investigators determined that Harbour fired at passing vehicles from the woods north of the road.
Deputies and Georgia State Patrol Troopers attempted to stop Harbour, who sped off, later shooting himself in the head. Harbour was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and died en route.
According to the Sun Sentinel, three 9mm pistols, a .22-caliber rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, a BB gun and more than 3,400 rounds of ammunition were found in Harbour’s vehicle. Police found two holsters under Harbour’s shirt.
A handwritten note idolizing and proclaiming inspiration from Cruz had been found in Harbour’s home on Saturday morning, Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch said. Harbour wrote that the school gunman gave him “courage and confidence” and saw Cruz as a “hero.”
“What his motivation was other than just hate, we don’t know at this time,” Couch told reporters. “He had the weapons, the ammunition and obviously the will to inflict a lot of harm and a lot of hate.”
The investigation is ongoing.
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