Two Toccoa, Georgia shootings believed connected

Two shootings in Toccoa, Georgia, separated by about 30 minutes, are believed by authorities to be connected.  Randy Shirley, Stephens County sheriff, says the investigation is now in the hands of the state police, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.  Shortly after 11:30 yesterday morning, the police found a male gunshot victim at the Marathon station, known as Buddy’s Quick Stop, on the Big A Road.  That male adult was shot in the leg.  That shooting was followed by the second incident on 123 near the South Carolina line.  Shirley said, “Just after noon…there was another shooting at Tony’s General Store on Highway 123 at the South Carolina line.  The owner and his son were inside the store.  A black male entered the store shooting both victims, one in the abdomen and the other in the arm.”  He said both of those injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.  A suspect in custody has been identified as a 31-year old Toccoa man.  The sheriff said, “We have no idea what the motive is nor what was on the shooter’s mind.  He was cognizant of everything that was being asked of him, and did not seem to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and seemed to be in his right mind.”