Sparta shooting believed to be murder suicide

Authorities are investigating the shooting deaths of a man and woman at a home in Sparta on Saturday that are believed to be the result of a murder suicide.

Hancock County Coroner Adrick Ingram identified the deceased as Harold Jones, 40, and Barbara Lewis, 49. The incident happened at about 11 a.m. on Pine Drive in Sparta, according to a Georgia Bureau of Investigation release.

The release said preliminary indications are that the deaths were the result of a murder suicide. It did not state which person is believed to have done the shooting. Autopsies will be performed at the GBI crime lab in Macon.

Ingram said the two were in a room together in a home when the shooting happened. There were other people in the house who heard gunshots then found the two in the room, he said.

The Sparta Police Department is also investigating, Ingram said.

This story was originally published August 6, 2017 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Sparta shooting believed to be murder suicide."