Mom says man who shot 4 in thirty first mass killing this 12 months wanted psychological assist for almost a decade

HAMPTON, Ga. – The 40-year-old man who shot 4 folks within the nation’s thirty first mass killing this 12 months wanted psychological assist for almost a decade however his household and officers could not pressure him to get remedy, his mom mentioned.

Andre Longmore walked by way of his neighborhood within the semi-rural suburb of Hampton, Georgia on Saturday and fatally shot 4 neighbors, all senior residents. The killings set off a manhunt that ended Sunday with Longmore useless in a shootout in one other suburb about 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of Hampton. The taking pictures wounded a sheriff’s deputy and two law enforcement officials, who all are anticipated to recuperate.

Longmore had a “mental breakdown” in 2014, resulting in an inpatient hospital keep, his mom Lorna Dennis, instructed WSB-TV on Sunday.

She mentioned her son “kept deteriorating” however refused to hunt medical consideration, and that officers mentioned they couldn’t pressure him to hunt care.

“It’s hard to lose your son, and it’s also hard to know your son cost the life of so many people,” Dennis mentioned.

She mentioned Longmore had served within the Military, was residing along with her in recent times, and that she hoped that family members of the victims may discover peace with God.

“I feel so much for the families, and that’s why I just want to say I’m very, very sorry. I know words cannot really comfort them from me at this time, but I know there is a comforter, and they can refer to him at any time,” Dennis mentioned.

Hampton Mayor Ann Tarpley introduced Sunday that the town would maintain a prayer vigil Monday for the 4 individuals who died in that metropolis of 8,000 — Scott Leavitt, 67, and his spouse, Shirley Leavitt, 66; Steve Blizzard, 65; and Ronald Jeffers, 66.

“Today is about the victims of this tragic event,” Tarpley told reporters Sunday. “It’s about their families, and it’s about the community.”

All 4 lived in the identical subdivision as Longmore, the place about 40 homes flank a lake on two streets about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Atlanta. Police and witnesses say Longmore shot the 4 inside about 10 minutes on Saturday morning earlier than stealing Blizzard’s SUV and fleeing.

The shootings marked the thirty first mass killing of 2023, taking the lives of a minimum of 153 folks this 12 months, in response to a database maintained by The AP and USA At this time in a partnership with Northeastern College.

Longmore was killed about 15 miles (25 kilometers) to the north of Hampton in suburban Jonesboro. Clayton County police mentioned a Henry County sheriff’s deputy noticed the stolen SUV and commenced chasing him, calling for assist.

Officers traded hearth with Longmore earlier than he ran away and entered the yard of a townhouse, bleeding and bare, and bumped into the home to cover. When officers entered the townhouse, Longmore started taking pictures on the officers, witnesses and police mentioned.

A Henry County sheriff’s deputy and two Clayton County law enforcement officials had been injured within the try and arrest Longmore, officers mentioned. The sheriff’s deputy was shot within the again and underwent surgical procedure. Each Clayton officers had been launched after remedy for minor accidents.

Jeffers was remembered as a loyal member of his church. Sherry Wyatt, who works at Hampton’s recreation middle close to Jeffers’ residence, mentioned Jeffers would repeatedly are available to sing on the senior middle that shares the constructing.

A couple of months in the past, Jeffers came to visit to her facet of the constructing to follow and he or she instructed him how stunning his voice was.

“I’m just so glad I told him he sang like an angel,” mentioned Wyatt, including her coronary heart was heavy Sunday over his demise. “I know he is in heaven now singing.”

Hampton is residence to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Georgia’s racetrack for NASCAR occasions. The latest murder earlier than Saturday within the city of 8,000 was in 2018, officers mentioned.

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Amy reported from Atlanta.