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Ex-firefighter dies by suicide after killing wife, 6-year-old boy

Police say triple homicide occurred after a domestic dispute

Lauren Foreman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

LOCUST GROVE, Ga. — Police believe an ex-Henry County firefighter killed a 6-year-old boy and his wife, then turned the gun on himself after a domestic dispute at a home in Locust Grove.

James Bryant, 37, Melissa Bryant, 39, and Conner Patrick, 6, were found dead about 10 a.m. Monday in a back bedroom of the home in the 3300 block of Bill Gardner Parkway, Henry police Capt. Joey Smith said Tuesday.

“Preliminary investigation has revealed that the adult male is responsible for the shooting,” he said. “However, this case is very active and cannot be confirmed at this time. This incident did involve a domestic quarrel and may have occurred sometime after 9 p.m. Sunday night.”

Officers found out about the incident when James and Melissa Bryant failed to show up to work and co-workers went to the home to check on them, Smith said. They worked for different employers.

Co-workers found the garage door open and a back door unlocked. They didn’t go in, but called police.

When officers got to the home, “they did see some things that were concerning with some of the windows being open and stuff like that,” Smith said. “They made a decision to enter the home and [found] three people deceased.”

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