An employee at a Walmart in Covington, Georgia, shot and killed two coworkers and critically injured another in a targeted attack early Friday morning, April 11, according to authorities.
The incident began at approximately 1:30 a.m. at a Walmart Supercenter in Covington, southeast of Atlanta, while the store was closed to the public but employees were inside working.
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office reported that the suspect, Dwayne Eduh, a Covington resident, left the Walmart, retrieved a handgun, and returned to the store where he fatally shot coworker Khalaf Barksdale, who was 21 years old.
The assailant then shot another employee standing outside the store, leaving him critically injured. This employee, identified as Ryan Bradley, 29, was taken to a local hospital for treatment and is reportedly in stable condition.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” the Newton County Sheriff’s Office stated. “The suspect specifically targeted individuals they knew.”
After the shootings at the Walmart, Eduh, 24, traveled to a residence about two miles away, where he forcibly entered the home of another coworker and fatally shot 19-year-old Akeela Clarke.
Family members informed local media that Clarke was killed in front of her mother, while her sister hid. The relationship between Eduh and the victims has not been fully detailed by authorities, though officials have described all the victims as “acquaintances” of the suspect.
Clarke’s mother, Samantha Clarke, mentioned that her family had moved from New York to improve their quality of life. She noted that her daughter worked at Walmart while studying nursing online, with the aim of making a positive impact on people’s lives.
Following the attacks, Eduh fled Georgia, traveling roughly 150 miles east on Interstate 20 into South Carolina. Law enforcement located Eduh in Aiken, South Carolina.
Sergeant Jack Redlinger confirmed that Georgia and South Carolina state patrols, along with local police departments, coordinated to apprehend Eduh. The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Georgia State Patrol to make the arrest at approximately 3:55 a.m.
During the arrest, officials reported that Eduh engaged in a brief standoff with law enforcement before shooting himself. First responders transported Eduh to a hospital for treatment, where he died on Sunday afternoon. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
Police have not disclosed a motive for the shootings.
According to multiple sources, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation with assistance from Aiken County investigators in South Carolina.
Walmart representatives expressed their distress over the situation. The store was temporarily closed but reopened on the weekend to fill pharmacy prescriptions.
A company spokesperson stated that Walmart was heartbroken by the incident and emphasized that there is no place for violence in their stores, according to reports.
Newton County deputies and Georgia State Patrol troopers responded to the initial crime scenes in Covington, securing both the Walmart location and the residential property where the shootings occurred.
This is not the first violent incident at the Covington Walmart. In October, two men were arrested after allegedly exchanging gunfire in the store’s parking lot following a disagreement.
The sheriff’s department confirmed that the suspect knew all the victims, emphasizing that these were targeted attacks rather than random acts of violence.
Local residents have expressed shock at the violence that occurred in their community. The Walmart Supercenter on Salem Road serves as a major retailer for the area, and many in the community are familiar with the employees who work there.
Authorities are continuing to piece together the timeline and circumstances surrounding the shootings. Officials indicated that more details would be released as the investigation progresses.