GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- Saturday morning, Hall County officials named 26-year-old Rex Harbour of Snellville as the gunman who took shots at cars along Georgia 365 on Friday.
During a press conference, Hall County Sheriff Gerald Crouch said that Harbour was well-armed with at least five guns and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition. He said Harbour lay in wait for cars along the divided highway before he started taking shots at a number of cars just before noon on Friday. Crouch said he struck a total of seven vehicles with gunshots.
On Friday, two people -- a 72-year-old man and a 54-year-old man -- were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. One of the men was struck in the leg, the other man was struck in the hip. In addition, Crouch said, a 49-year-old woman received minor injuries from broken glass when a bullet hit her windshield. No other injuries were reported.
Crouch said Harbour was hiding in the treeline alongside the highway, which is why drivers had no idea as to where the gunshots were coming from.
A total of 17 9-mm shell casings were found at the location where Harbour had been hiding and shooting from.
Deputies discovered a motion-activated trail camera of the type used by hunters in the area of where Harbour had been, which caught some images of him as he passed by. The camera was secured to a tree with a velcro strap.
Investigators discovered writings that indicated Harbour idolized Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz, calling him a "hero."
Crouch said that writings showed that Harbour had an overall hatred for all Americans. As a result, he didn't target any one specific ethnic group during his shooting spree on Friday, instead, apparently shooting at every and anyone who crossed his path.
Harbour lived with his parents in Snellville.
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Detectives, speaking with them Friday night, learned that he was a landscaper, but, according to Crouch, there was nothing within his employment history that specifically led him to Hall County or that particular stretch of highway.
An additional search of his background indicated there was no arrest history or any type of background of violence for Harbour.
Crouch said he did not believe the weapons were stolen.
The two drivers who had been shot both called 911 to report that they had been wounded at about noon on Friday. At about that same point, deputies said they saw a suspicious vehicle pulling out of the woodline along Georgia 365 at about the same time.
When Georgia State Patrol troopers in the area attempted to stop the vehicle, it tried to flee, which resulted in a short pursuit before it stopped in the median of the highway.
Deputies and troopers approached the stopped vehicle in the median to discover Harbour with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to a local hospital where he later died.
Crouch said there may have been other vehicles struck in addition to the seven they have already identified. If anyone has information on Friday's shooting, or their vehicle was struck by gunfire, they are asked to call 770-536-8812.
