COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — The family of 35-year-old Vanessa Phillips (née Thompson) said she was gunned down by her estranged husband, Dustin Phillips, in front of their four-year-old daughter.
The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office said deputies found her body outside a home in the 100 block of Halo Trace in Sharpsburg on Tuesday night. The sheriff’s office called in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and U.S. Marshals to help.
In an update Wednesday night, Coweta County Sheriff's deputies responded around 9:30 p.m. to a home on Halo Trace in Sharpsburg, the same home where family said Vanessa Phillips, 35, was shot and killed the night before.
Authorities issued a warrant was issued for Dustin Phillips on murder charges.
After a multi-agency search, deputies said Dustin had returned to the home, where he pointed a gun at them. Deputies returned fire and hit Phillips, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff's office said.
The Coweta County's Sheriff said no deputies were injured in the shooting. In an update, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said deputies had fired at Dustin several times. The GBI said deputies gave him medical aid but he died on scene.
The GBI said its investigation remains ongoing.
The manhunt prompted the town of Sharpsburg to close Town Hall and Staley Park and Pavilion on Wednesday to make sure citizens remained safe.
Vanessa's youngest brother, Jeyson Brooks, said his sister and Dustin had a toxic relationship. He said the couple had been living in Tennessee, where he had family until she left him about a year ago and moved back to Coweta County.
“This past year has been great for the kids and my sister and our mother. We’ve all reconnected again. It’s been great making it work. She’s such a hard worker. She’s so passionate about her children, making sure they have everything they need, even if it’s going without,” Brooks explained.
Brooks said there were a lot of allegations made by Vanessa of mental and physical abuse inflicted upon her by Dustin. He said his sister called the police many times and filed multiple police reports both in Tennessee and in Coweta County but claimed nothing was ever done despite his sister fearing for her life.
The couple have five children. Their youngest is just four years old. Their oldest is 18 years old. Brooks said the oldest son also has a one-year-old baby.
He said those children were his sister’s whole life.
“She just absolutely loved her kids more than anything in this world,” he explained.
Brooks said his sister was an "absolute angel."
“She always saw the good in people and really wanted to give people a chance,” he said.
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Photos | Vanessa Phillips (née Thompson)
However, Brooks believes she gave her estranged husband one too many chances.
He said Dustin has been staying with different family members in the area. On Tuesday night, Brooks said Vanessa took her four-year-old daughter over to see Dustin, who was staying at his uncle’s house.
Brooks said it was about 20 minutes or so from where Vanessa and the children were staying with their mom.
While the exact details are still somewhat unknown, Brooks said at some point while at the house, Vanessa and Dustin got into an argument, and that’s when he said Dustin shot her.
The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office said responding deputies found Vanessa's body outside the home.
Books said she had been gunned down in front of her daughter. Something he said the family just can’t believe.
“She was just really wanting to make things work. We’re all just heartbroken,” Brooks explained.
Brooks said even with all the toxicity and threats, they just never believed something like this would ever happen.
“It’s one thing to be angry about all of this but it’s another thing to just completely take the life of someone who is the mother of all of your children and who you’re supposed to love and who you’re supposed to take care of and be better for, and it’s just a tragedy,” he explained.
Brooks and his family have created an online fundraiser to help with his sister’s funeral expenses and to make sure her children are taken care of now without their mom. He pointed out they’ve also lost their father.
Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI Regional Office in Columbus at (706) 565-7888. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or online here.