GBI releases new details in Sunday Habersham shooting

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities say a former law enforcement officer fatally shot his ex-wife and wounded a sheriff and deputy at a home in Habersham County.

Russell Andrews with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation responded to the media Monday afternoon.

"They (Habersham County) received a call stating that there was a domestic dispute going on at the residence and that gun shots were being fired," said Andrews.

Andrews said when officers began to responded to the Clarkesville home, they encountered a black Crown Victoria, which sped towards them, swerved off the roadway and then spun out in a yard. A white male, later identified as suspect Anthony Giaquinta, got out of the car and ran into the woods.

Andrews says shortly after that, dispatch notified the deputies that the suspect's 16-year-old daughter and her boyfriend were the ones who called 911 and had fled the residence.

After deputies located the 16-year-old and ensured her safety, Sheriff Joey Terrell, Deputy Bill Zigen and a third, unnamed deputy went to the residence and entered the garage.

"Upon entering the garage, they encountered a female... deceased on the floor of the garage of the residence," Andrews said. 41-year-old Anthony Giaquinta is believed to have killed 40-year-old Kathy Giaquinta Smith, his ex-wife.

Andrews said Deputy Zigen was stationed outside of the garage while the Sheriff and the other deputy searched the home for more victims. "Deputy Zigen was confronted by Giaquinta on the outside of the residence. It appears that he was likely ambushed." Andrews said Deputy Zigen had been shot twice, and crawled to cover in the garage.

"Sheriff Terrell, along with the third deputy inside the residence went back through the garage door, Sheriff Terrell was then shot by Giaquinta when he entered the garage area, he was shot in the right bicep," said Andrews. "The Sheriff returned to the residence to seek cover. The third deputy was able to step up and exchange gunfire with Giaquinta."

The three were able to evacuate the residence and then created a perimeter around the residence. Hall County Sheriff's Office and Georgia State Patrol SWAT Teams gassed the home, and it was determined that Giaquinta was no longer in the residence, according to Andrews.

"As they began an exterior search of the residence, Giaquinta's body was discovered in the rear yard of the residence. At this point, we believe that he was likely killed by the return fire from law enforcement." Andrews said there was no evidence of a self-inflicted wound.

A friend of Smith, 45-year-old Steven Thomas Singleton of Flowery Branch, was also found dead outside the home, in a side yard and authorities believe Giaquinta shot him multiple times.

Andrews said they aren't entirely sure of the sequence of events prior to law enforcement arriving on scene, however they believe Singleton was shot prior to authorities arriving. Andrews said they also did not know how Singleton was acquainted with Smith.

Giaquinta was a former police officer and sheriff's deputy.

Both Terrell and Zigan have been released from the hospital. Neither the 16-year-old or her boyfriend were hurt in the incident.

WDUN and AccessNorthGa.com staff contributed to this report.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/2/285550