Crime & Safety

Video: Camouflaged Woman Shot Dead

When Fred Whitmore's wife left for work, Barbara Smith of Canton slipped into her former co-worker's Ball Ground home with a gun.

Updated: 5 p.m.

Lt. Jay Baker, spokesman for the , just released the identities of the homeowner and the woman in this morning's fatal shooting near Ball Ground.

This is what he had to say:

Find out what's happening in Woodstock-Towne Lakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Inside the home they located the homeowner, Fred Stanley Whitmore, 54 years old of Canton, and a deceased person dressed in camouflage and wearing a mask. Whitmore explained that shortly after his wife left for work he heard a noise in the house and an intruder entered the bedroom carrying a gun and flashlight. According to Whitmore a struggle ensued and he was able to get the gun and fired a single shot at the intruder.

"The intruder was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives have identified the deceased as Barbara Smith, 53 years old of Canton. Smith’s vehicle was located approximately one mile away from the incident location. Smith and Whitmore are acquaintances. It is currently unknown why Smith entered the residence. The investigation is ongoing."

Find out what's happening in Woodstock-Towne Lakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Updated: 2:52 p.m.

Dressed in camouflage from head-to-toe, an unidentified woman parked her car about a mile from her former co-worker's Cherokee County home, walked the rest of the way and slipped inside with a gun.

It was 6:30 this morning, and the homeowner's wife had just left for work.

A struggle ensued between the man and the woman.

A shot was fired.

A bullet hit the woman in the head, killing her.

That was the story that  Roger Garrison laid out during a press conference late this morning, just hours after deputies responded to a shooting at 113 Bethany Manor Way.

"It's an understatement to say that it's just a bizarre instance," he told reporters outside the house. "The person that obviously knows the most about the situation is deceased so it's going to be very difficult to ever determine exactly what the motive may have been."

Indeed, Garrison had few details. The identities of the victim and the homeowner remain a mystery, as does the motive. Investigators weren't sure if it was a case of stalking or a home invasion gone bad.

"We certainly don't know how to classify it as of yet," Garrison said. "There's no forced entry into the home. The garage door came open."

The only thing investigators know for sure is that the homeowner knew the woman. They worked together at an unspecified health care facility. Asked if the two had more than a working relationship, Garrison said he had "no clue as to that.

"It is not a stranger-to-stranger," he said. "They knew each other from working together. Apparently knew the routine of the family—or, had learned that."

The homeowner will not be charged with a crime.

"Based upon the dress," Garrison said, "it would have been virtually impossible of him to have known who this individual was."

Original Report

The  is investigating a morning shooting that left one person dead near Ball Ground.

Lt. Jay Baker, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office, released no details about the murder.

"A press conference will be held at 11:30 a.m. at 113 Bethany Manor Way off Upper Bethany Road in Northern Cherokee County," he said. "That is where the incident occurred."

Stay tuned to woodstock.patch.com for updates.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Woodstock-Towne Lake