Police: Hall County shooter 'idolized' Parkland shooting suspect

HALL COUNTY, Ga. - The shooter who injured two people on a highway in Hall County Friday afternoon "idolized" by Parkland school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz, officials said.

After searching the home of 26-year-old Snellville resident and landscaper Rex Whitmire Harbour, investigators say that they found handwritten "hate-filled" documents that indicated Harbour viewed Cruz as a "hero." The documents said that Cruz gave Harbour "courage and confidence."

The shooting happened along Georgia Highway 365 near White Hall Road around noon.  Police said they began getting reports of shots fired on northbound vehicles.

MORE: Sheriff: Man shot randomly at passing cars injuring 2

During the investigation, officials say deputies noticed a suspicious beige-colored Buick pulling out of a wooded area. One deputy drew his weapon and ran toward the car.

The driver, now known as Harbour, attempted to flee. After a short chase, the car came to a stop in the median of the busy highway. Deputies said the driver appeared to have shot himself.

Inside the car, police found three 9mm handguns, a 12-gauge shotgun, a BB-gun, and a large amount of ammunition. After searching the location where Harbour was traced to, police found around 17 shell cases from a 9mm under the trees as well as a trail camera. Footage from the camera showed Harbour walking by with two holsters.

Harbour was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital where he later died.

After an investigation, the FBI and GBI said that Harbour had no history of criminal or violent actions and was not associated with any violent groups.

Investigators said they currently have why Harbour seemed to be "targeting all Americans" or his motivation "other than hate."

"He had the weapons, the ammunition and obviously he had the will to inflict a lot of pain and a lot of hate," Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch.

Three victims were injured in the shooting – a 72-year-old man who suffered a gunshot wound to his hip and a 54-year-old man who suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. An additional victim, a 49-year-old woman, was hurt by a piece of shattered glass.

The two men who were shot were rushed to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville in stable condition.

In total, police say seven vehicles were shot by Harbour.

The names of the victims have not yet been released.