HARTWELL - A Franklin County man shot and killed his ex-wife's boss, then kidnapped and killed her before shooting himself overnight Saturday, officials say.
The incident began at Froh's Grill on Lake Hartwell, where 38-year-old Lori Weaver Chumley worked, after closing Saturday night.
"I got a call about midnight, Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland told WLHR in Lavonia. "When I arrived, one victim, Jason Forkin, was on the floor already expired."
Cleveland said the male shooter came to the restaurant after closing time and was armed with a gun.
GBI spokeswoman Sherry Lang identified that shooter as 46-year-old Sammy Chumley, whose last known address was in Canon.
"When Forkin saw Chumley, he ran into another room," Cleveland said. "He then ran outside into a covered outside dining area where Chumley caught up with him and shot him."
Three other employees were able to scramble to safety.
Witnesses said Chumley then went back inside and grabbed his ex-wife, forcing her at gunpoint to leave with him. The two were seen getting into her car.
Chumley drove them to a burned out house on Muddy Branch Road off Uniwatti Road near Canon in Franklin County, where the couple once lived, Cleveland said. There, Chumley shot and killed his ex-wife and then turned the gun on himself.
Cleveland said Chumley shot himself in the head. He was taken to an area hospital and was put on life support but later died.
Cleveland said it's not clear why Chumley shot Forkin, but he believes Chumley may have thought his ex-wife and Forkin were having an affair. Forkin was the owner of Froh's, a popular eatery on Hartwell Lake near the Rock Springs boat ramp.
Lang said Forkin was 40 years old.
The Hart County shooting occurred around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Lang said.
The Franklin County incident happened between 1 and 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Lang said.
M.J. Kneiser of WLHR contributed to this report.
Friday
April 19th, 2024
10:20AM
