Walmart employee suspected of fatally shooting 2 co-workers dies of injuries
A Walmart employee in Georgia, who is suspected of fatally shooting two of his colleagues and injuring a third, died of his injuries on April 13, authorities said.
Dwayne Eduh, a 24-year-old Walmart employee, is suspected to have fatally shot co-workers Khalaf Barksdale, 21, and Akeela Clarke, 19 at a Walmart store in Covington, about 35 miles east of Atlanta, around 1:30 a.m. on April 11, the Newton County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Ryan Bradley, 29, was also injured in the incident but was in stable condition, authorities said.
Authorities said the suspect "retrieved a firearm from outside the building," returned inside and fatally shot Barksdale. He then shot and critically injured a second male co-worker, identified as Bradley, before going to a nearby residence, where he forced his way in and fatally shot Clarke.
Suspect fled out of state
Eduh then fled towards South Carolina, and a standoff ensued with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and South Carolina State Troopers near Aiken, about 2 hours east of Covington. Eduh then shot himself and was transported in critical condition to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries on April 13, Newton County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Caitlin Jett told Paste BN April 14.
"This remains an active and ongoing investigation," the sheriff's office said in a April 11 news release.
While a motive is also not yet known, the sheriff's office said the "suspect specifically targeted individuals they knew."
The Walmart store was closed for business at the time of the shooting, with only employees present inside, authorities said. It remained closed the day after, according to a Facebook post by the sheriff's office.
'No place for violence,' says Walmart
Walmart said in a statement the company was "heartbroken" over the incident.
"There’s no place for violence in our stores," Walmart said in a statement to Paste BN on April 14. "We’re focused on taking care of our associates and supporting law enforcement with their investigation."
Loved ones remember victims
A GoFundMe account set up by Clarke's family, requesting donations for her memorial services, described Akeela as "one of the most vibrant and joyful individuals you could ever meet."
The family said their loved one "was taken from us in a tragic and wrongful manner due to yet another senseless act of gun violence."
Friends and family of the victim also gathered near her home on April 13 to release 19 balloons in honor of the 19-year-old, who aspired to become a labor and delivery nurse, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
Barksdale was remembered as "a beloved coworker and friend," in his obituary, which said his death "has sent shockwaves through the Covington community" and "left his family and friends heartbroken."
This story contains mention of suicide. If you or someone you know are at risk of suicide, please contact 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for support.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.