Marietta, GA, May 4, 2006--Two Cobb County men are dead after an apparent murder-suicide at a Marietta carpet warehouse early Wednesday morning.
According to Cobb County Police, James Hicks, 63, of Kennesaw, was shot and killed at Fleming Carpet distribution center shortly after 6:30 a.m. The suspect, Steve Smith, 45, of Marietta, then turned the gun on himself, according to police.
Smith was transported by ambulance to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Cpl. Dana Pierce of the Cobb County police said Hicks was a manager at the warehouse and Smith is believed to have done some sort of work for the company.
"We're still not completely sure what his connection was," Pierce said. "At this point it appears he was somebody that did some work for the company--a subcontractor or installer--but was not employed by them."
Pierce said police are still investigating a motive in the shooting.
Another employee at the warehouse witnessed the shooting and called 911, according to police.
