Coweta County gun range murders: Victims' family responds to arrest of 21-year-old suspect
GRANTVILLE, Ga. - The family of three people murdered at a gun range in Grantville, Georgia, said they are praying for law enforcement and the man accused of killing their loved ones.
A funeral for Tommy, Evelyn and Luke Hawk was on Thursday. Police said they were shot to death during an armed robbery at Lock, Stock & Barrel Shooting Range, which the family owned.
Police arrested 21-year-old Jacob Christian Muse on Friday, charging him with all three murders.
EVERYTHING KNOWN ABOUT THE COWETA COUNTY GUN RANGE TRIPLE MURDER
The family responded to the news on Saturday, saying they wouldn't comment further until after Easter Sunday.
"We are encouraged and honored by the incredible efforts of our local law enforcement including the Grantville Police and Coweta County Sheriff's department, as well as the ATF and GBI. We understand from Chief Steve Whitlock that the current development with the murder suspect in custody, was certainly a team effort. We are continuing to pray for their teams during this stressful time, and we will continue to pray for the redemption of the perpetrator.
"Thank you again, to the City of Grantville and the community at large for such an outpouring of love and support. It is so meaningful that so many in our community cherished them as we did and have helped to shine a light in the darkness.
"Tommy, Evelyn and Luke Hawk have been laid to rest but, we will certainly see them again."
Who is the suspect in the Grantville gun range shooting?
Jacob Christian Muse, 21, of College Park (Provided by Coweta County Sheriff's Office)
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Grantville Police Department arrested 21-year-old College Park resident Jacob Christian Muse and charged him with three counts of malice murder.
Muse was booked into the Coweta County Jail.
Police haven't explained what led investigators to Muse.
Who were the victims of the Granville gun range shooting?
Grantville Police Chief Steve Whitlock said Tommy Hawk, the owner of Lock, Stock & Barrel, died in the shooting as well as his wife Evelyn and their grandson Luke.
Luke is the son of Coweta County coroner Richard Hawk, who was one of the first at the scene on Friday night. Tommy Hawk and Evelyn Hawk were Richard Hawk's parents.
When, where was the gun range shooting?
The shooting happened sometime on the night of April 8 after the business closed.
Lock, Stock & Barrel is located at 514 Bohannon Road in Grantville.
Initially the investigators said the robbery happened between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Grantville police said officers were dispatched to the scene shortly after 8 p.m.
What was stolen from the Grantville gun range?
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said an unknown number of guns were missing, but Grantville police estimated about 40 guns were missing.
Police also said someone took a camera DVR from the business.
What agencies are assisting in the Grantville gun range shooting investigation?
It's the Grantville Police Department's case, but the small department employs about 13 officers, the chief said Monday.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and ATF are assisting.
Whitlock also said the Coweta County Sheriff's Office and the Troup County Sheriff's Office are also providing some support.
Reward in Grantville gun range shooting investigation
There was a combined reward of $25,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the investigation.
ATF, the City of Grantville, Georgia and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry, announced a combined reward of up to $15,000.
Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order to add $10,000 to the reward, increasing it to a total of $25,000.
It was not immediately known if anyone will be claiming the reward money.