6 dead, including 3 children, in murder-suicide in Tennessee near Georgia border – WSB-TV Channel 2

MARION COUNTY, Tennessee – According to News Channel 9, six people died in a murder-suicide Thursday night in Marion County, Tennessee.

Three of those killed were children. A seventh person was also shot and remains hospitalized.

The shooting occurred at a home on Pine Street in the township of Sequatchie, about 15 miles from the northwest Georgia border.

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According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the house was on fire when officers responded. The sheriff said it was unclear how many victims were shot. At least two died from smoke inhalation.

Sheriff Bo Burnett identified the shooter as Gary Don Barnett and some of the victims as Regina Barnett, the shooter’s estranged wife, the couple’s two grandchildren and one other child. Another victim was Regina Barnett’s daughter, Brittany Perez.

The children’s ages were not disclosed.

The survivor was shot three times.

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Burnett told News Channel 9 it was one of the worst crime scenes he’s seen in his 43-year career.

“You hear about things like that, but it’s one of the worst things I’ve experienced in my entire career as a police officer,” Burnett told News Channel 9.

News Channel 9 obtained documents showing Regina Barnett told a judge in 2022 she was afraid of her estranged husband.

According to the documents, Regina Barnett said:

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“My future husband threatened to shoot me and he insults me every day. He also threatened to shoot my dog. He also keeps between 50 and 60 guns in his room. I’m afraid he’ll get drunk and shoot me.”

Barnett was charged with domestic violence in that case.

According to the sheriff, Regina Barnett was granted a protective order that was still in effect at the time of the murders.

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