DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Deputies say a man shot and killed his wife outside a fire station. Their children were sitting just a foot away when it happened, shocking the Dawsonville, Georgia, community.
Jeremy Wade Gibson, 44, and his wife, Amy Alexandria Gibson, 44, were later identified in the incident, according to the Forsyth County News. Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson said they had separated, adding that the couple had domestic violence issues in the past, but Gibson had never been arrested.
"We do have a history, won't go into details what that was, but do have a limited history with them both," Johnson said.
Johnson told WSB the victim called 911 for help a little after 7:30 p.m. Monday as she ran from her husband. He was following her as she pulled into Dawson County Emergency Services Station No. 7.
The sheriff said her husband got out and went up to his wife's car and began shooting, killing her in front of their two kids, ages 5 and 8. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the woman was dead in the driver's seat when deputies arrived minutes later.
"Fire stations should be a safe haven and, obviously, that's what we believe this lady was looking for. Unfortunately, it just went awry," Johnson told WSB.
A Dawson County firefighter, his wife and their children may have witnessed the shooting, fire Chief Danny Thompson told WSB. They were visiting the fire station when the gunfire erupted.
Another firefighter was inside the station at the time, but there was nothing that person could do to help the woman, the AJC reported.
"The incident evolved so quickly and rapidly that the personnel wasn't able to really take any measures to stop the threat," Thompson told WSB.
Johnson said Gibson acted calm and surrendered to firefighters before deputies arrived.
A crisis team was called in to support the witnesses and other first responders, he said. The GBI was also called to the scene to process evidence.
Gibson faces charges related to murder and firearms, as well as cruelty to children.
The children, ages 5 and 8, were not injured, Johnson said, according to the AJC. They are currently in the custody of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services.
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