CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Authorities are investigating after a man shot four people and led police on a chase before shooting himself to death.
According to Bartow County Sheriff Clark Millsap, it all began when a man, 20-year-old Austin Denzell Tyler, shot three people at a home on Brent Circle SW. One victim, 63-year-old Royce Randy Hobgood, was killed. The other two were critically injured and are being treated at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.
Tyler suspect then drove to a house on Mylam Bridge Road, rammed his truck into the house and shot an 18-year-old man in the hand. Police said that victim is recovering with his family.
Authorities said Tyler then went to River Oaks Drive and purposely rammed into the back of a vehicle, and then drove up to the side and shot into it. Tyler then forced an elderly man and his grandson out of that vehicle and took off in it.
Authorities spotted Tyler and chased him on State Route 113. As the chase was going on, Tyler then crashed into the back of a vehicle pulling a lawn care trailer. Deputies believe the suspect shot himself in the head during the chase, causing the vehicle to crash into the trailer, which then caught fire. Tyler was pronounced dead at Cartersville Medical Center.
Millsap said the motive was likely related to drugs. According to the sheriff, all of the victims knew the gunman.
