Fourth victim dies in Walker County murder-suicide
UPDATE (3/14/2025): The off-duty Chickamauga Police Officer who has on scene has died.
“Officer Charles “Chuck” Dunn took his final walk, surrounded by love, before giving the ultimate gift—life to others through organ donation.”
-Chickamauga Police Department via Facebook
UPDATE: We’re learning more about the murder-suicide in Walker County that killed three and
Charles (Chuck) Dunn / Chickamauga Police Department
injured one.
The one injured victim has been identified as 52-year-old Chickamauga police officer Charles (Chuck) Dunn.
Dunn was off duty at the time of the incident.
According to Sheriff Steve Wilson, Dunn was a longtime family friend of the victims Mrs. Payne and Mr. Denny.
Dunn is in a hospital in critical condition.
More updates will come as information becomes available.
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) – Three people are dead, and one person is in critical condition after a murder-suicide in Rock Spring.
On Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 7:10 p.m., deputies responded to a residence on Wood Station Road after receiving a distress call from one of the victims.
Upon arrival, deputies found three individuals deceased and one person suffering from life-threatening injuries.
The investigation indicates 54-year-old Jacklyn D. Payne was living at the Wood Station Road residence with her father, 79-year-old Eugene (Jack) Denny.
Authorities say that Jacklyn was living there due to her and her husband, 54-year-old Russell David Payne, were separated.
Russell drove to the house, exited his vehicle, and began firing multiple .223 caliber rounds into the back of the residence.
He then entered the home, continuing to discharge his weapon.
It was later determined that Russell died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A fourth individual, identified as a 52-year-old male family friend, is believed to have confronted Russell.
The individual was taken to a local hospital and remains in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon.
The individuals identity has not yet been released.
The bodies will be transported by the Walker County Coroner to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) crime lab for autopsies.
