Killer's Guns Had Been Confiscated

"HEPHZIBAH, GA — The man suspected of fatally shooting his girlfriend and then turning the gun on himself in Hephzibah Friday has died, authorities said.

"Daniel Robert Gray, 51, died at the Medical College of Georgia Hospital Saturday afternoon, said Richmond County Deputy Coroner Johnny McDonald.

"Gray, of 3172 Bath Patterson Road, is suspected of shooting Sandra Mae Studer, 42, in the head at his home, Richmond County sheriff’s Sgt. Jason Vinson said.

"Some of her family members arrived to check on her and found her dead on the floor. An altercation with a family member is still being investigated.

"When police arrived, they found Gray with a gunshot wound to the head that appeared to be self-inflicted, Vinson said.

"Gray has a history of mental illness. In September, SWAT was called to his home, where he had barricaded himself inside with a gun. He was taken into custody and given a mental health evaluation. All of his guns were supposedly confiscated after the incident, Vinson said.

"An autopsy performed at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab in Atlanta determined that Studer died from a gunshot wound to the head that was ruled a homicide, McDonald said.

"Vinson said Gray and Studer had only been seeing each other for a few weeks."

From The Augusta Chronicle...