Police ID shooter, 2 of 4 victims in Douglas Co. killings

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — Five people are dead, and two children critically hurt.

Investigators are trying to figure out what led up to the shooting in the 3000 block of Willow Tree Circle in Amber Forest subdivision in Douglasville on Saturday.

"There was a little silence, and then I heard the girl screaming," a witness told Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach.

Douglas County investigators said that a man shot six people and himself, taking his own life. Five people, including the shooter, died.

“We had multiple victims shot in the street,” said Chief Deputy Stan Copeland, of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

On Sunday afternoon, police identified the suspected shooter and two of the four victims killed.

Police said Cedric G. Prather, 33, shot and killed Latoya Andrews, 33, and Joseph Terry Brown, also 33.

Police said four children were involved. They say a 7-year-old was dead at the scene. A 9-year-old was taken to a local hospital and died.

They say a 15-year-old and 8-year-old are in critical but stable condition, police say.

According to witnesses, the shooter went to his ex-wife's home, shot and killed her and her boyfriend inside.

They say he shot his son inside, who survived.

Then, he went outside to the street and shot his 15-year-old daughter who survived, shot and killed his youngest daughter, age 6, and other young girl neighbors say they had never seen before. Then, witnesses say he shot himself.

“As you can imagine we have neighbors that are in shock, neighbors who came to the aid of those victims,” Copeland said.

“All I saw was tons of fire trucks and emergency vehicles and ambulances and sadly to say but, a child that was deceased in the road,” said neighbor Julie Futral. “It’s very devastating, especially for the children.”

Copeland said the shooting had the most victims the veteran deputy has ever seen.

“I been with the Sheriff's Office 38 years and I've never seen this many victims in one shooting,” Copeland said.

We’re working to gather more information and confirm how all the shooting victims are connected. Stay with WSBTV.com and watch Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 6.

WSBTV