Family: Cumberland Mall victims' shooter, stalked her

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Family members say a woman shot outside a Macy's department store on Monday, died at the hands of a family friend.

Police said Violet Lambert, 55, was shot multiple times. She was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital where she died from her injuries.

Family members told Channel 2’s Ross Cavitt the suspected gunman, Danny Wray Brown, had been a friend of the family for about 20 years.

“She knew this guy, we all knew him. He was a friend of our family so, to hear what happened has just totally shocked us all,” said Tiffany Ranson, Lambert’s niece.

Brown, 59, and Lambert worked together for years but family members say after they left their jobs, Brown seemed desperate to not let them drift apart.

“He was basically stalking her,” said Ranson. “He was calling her phone numerous times, parking outside of her place--not coming in, just parking and sitting.”

Lambert pleaded with Brown to get help, but her loving manner, family members say, prevented Lambert from getting help herself.

“She just made light of everything, which is probably why she found herself in this situation,” Ranson said. “She never thought he would do that to her. I’m certain of that.”

Cavitt said Brown made a call to one of the family members after the incident, and said he’d done something terrible and was going to kill himself. He hung up and nobody could get him back on the phone.

Family members say Lambert she was a frequent shopper at Cumberland mall.

Witnesses told police a man shot Lambert, and calmly got into a white van and drove off.

“He looked like he was in no hurry, it was like something he did every day,” a witness said.

Witnesses told police the gunman shot at another man who ran to Lambert’s aid, but it does not appear he was injured.

Police said the van was found Monday at a home in East Point, where detectives found Brown’s body.

Police said Brown shot himself.

Family members say Lambert was fun and always laughing. She was a mother of three and a grandmother to seven.

WSBTV