The GBI held a press conference Monday outlining new details in the Sunday shooting in Habersham that left three people dead and wounded two local law enforcement officers.

The shooting apparently stemmed from a long-simmering domestic dispute. Kathy Smith, her boyfriend Steve Singleton and ex-husband Anthony Giaquinta were all killed in the shooting spree.

Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell and Deputy Bill Zigen were wounded. A third deputy who opened fire on Giaquinta was unharmed. His name is being withheld for investigative reasons.

GBI Deputy Director Rusty Andrews says the incident began around 7:33pm Sunday as Terrell, Zigen and the third deputy were responding to a domestic dispute call at Smith’s residence at 281 Lower Pond Court in the Winding Stair subdivision. He says as the officers turned into the subdivision they were confronted by a black Ford Crown Victoria that was speeding toward them. “As the sheriff’s officers turned onto the road, the Crown Victoria veered off of the road, went into a yard and spun out in the yard.” Andrews says a man, later identified as suspected shooter Anthony Giaquinta, got out of the car and “ran into the wooded area near the yard where the vehicle stopped.”

“The Sheriff’s Office stopped and looked for him briefly in that area. They had also been notified by their dispatch that Mr. Giaquinta’s 16-year old daughter was the person who had made the initial call to 911 and that she and her boyfriend had fled the residence,” Andrews says. “They went and they located her outside the subdivision to make sure that she was okay and then they turned and went back to the residence in the subdivision.”

Upon arriving at the house, Andrews says the three officers entered the garage where they found the body Guiquinta’s ex-wife Kathy Smith. He says, “They then posted Deputy Zigen at the entrance to the garage outside the residence. The sheriff and the other deputy made entry to the residence to search for the suspect and to clear it and to see if there were other victims on the inside.” That’s when the shooting began. “Deputy Zigen was confronted by Anthony Giaquinta on the outside of the residence. It appears he was likely ambushed from a position that Giaquinta had taken.” He says Giaquinta started firing and Deputy Zigen was struck twice. “He went down on the concrete and then crawled to a position of cover inside the garage of the residence,” says Andrews.

Upon hearing the shots, Sheriff Terrell and the third deputy returned to the garage where Terrell was shot in his right bicep by Giaquinta. “The Sheriff then returned back into the residence seeking a position of cover. The third deputy was able to step up and exchange gunfire with Giaquinta,” Andrews explains. At that point Terrell and the third deputy evacuated the house and got Deputy Zigen to safety.

A perimeter was set up outside the house and SWAT teams from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia State Patrol were called to the scene. Andrews says when the SWAT teams arrived they began searching for Giaquinta. “They fired gas into the house fearing that he was inside. Ultimately, it was determined that he was not inside the residence.” Andrews says officers began an exterior search and found Giaquinta’s body in the rear yard of the residence. “At this point we believe that he was likely killed by the return fire from law enforcement.” GBI Director of Public Affairs Sherry Lang says no shots were fired during the search.

As officers searched the exterior of the home they discovered the body of a third victim in a side yard. That victim is identified as 45-year old Steve Singleton of Flowery Branch. He’d been shot multiple times. Facebook posts made by Singleton and Smith this past New Year’s paint a foreboding picture of the events that unfolded last night. See Second shooting victim identified 

It has not yet been determined when Singleton was killed but Andrews says it happened before law enforcement arrived.

Giaquinta and Smith divorced in June of last year. They had two daughters together, ages 16 and 18. The 18-year old was not at home when the shooting occurred. Andrews says the 16-year old and her boyfriend fled to safety unharmed.

GBI investigators are still processing the crime scene. Andrews says, “We have most of our interviews done as far as the investigation is concerned,” but adds, “There are still a few folks we are trying to locate and interview.”

Giaquinta was a former Habersham County Sheriff’s deputy who left the department to go overseas to work as a military contractor. He returned to his job in Habersham where he worked until June 15, 2013, when he was fired for allegations of domestic violence. Andrews says it appears he has not worked in law enforcement since, but that remains under investigation.

Despite the history of domestic violence involved, Andrews says there were no restraining orders in place at the time of Sunday’s shooting.

Asked by reporters why the Sheriff responded to Sunday’s 911 call Andrews explains, “He responded because he knew the family and knew the situation and he knew there was a potential for violence.” Andrews adds it was well-known that Giaquinta had a lot of guns in his possession, but says the GBI currently has no information indicating he had made any previous weapons-related threats. There was nothing legally barring Giaquinta from owning firearms. “He was terminated for domestic violence, however, the charges were not ever adjudicated in court,” Andrews says.

The GBI’s investigation at this point indicates that the 2013 incident was the only time Giaquinta was ever charged with domestic violence. There is strong indication, however, from friends and family and through social media that trouble had existed between the two for some time. Smith’s relationship with Singleton was apparently an issue between the exes.

As far as Giaquinta’s relationship with the Sheriff, Andrews says there’s no immediate evidence of any ‘bad blood’ and adds, “He (Giaquinta) was disenfranchised with law enforcement, in general.”

The GBI is conducting the investigation at the request of the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office.

A four hour manhunt for an armed gunman ended abruptly Sunday after authorities discovered the alleged shooter’s body outside the residence where they say he gunned down his ex-wife. GBI Deputy Director Rusty Andrews says Anthony Giaquinta’s body and that of an unidentified man were found around 11:30pm near the home of Kathy Smith in the Winding Stair subdivision just west of Clarkesville. Smith was found dead earlier in the evening by Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell and Deputy Bill Zigan. The officers discovered her body in the garage of her home at 281 Lower Pond Court while responding to a domestic violenand suce call with shots fired.

After discovering her body, Andrews says the officers made their way into the house to look for other possible victims and were apparently ambushed by Giaquinta. Terrell and Zigan were shot. Andrews says they returned fire and Giaquinta fled.

That sparked a massive multi-agency manhunt. Sirens screamed through the night as officers from throughout Habersham and surrounding counties, including Hall and Gwinnett, converged on the scene. Patrol officers and SWAT teams from the Georgia State Patrol as well as K-9 units assisted in the search for the shooter.

Hundreds of residents in the search area were left to wonder what was happening. Most learned through local and social media and phone calls that the situation was dangerous and they should stay indoors.

After the manhunt ended law enforcement gathered at Hayes Country Corner Store on Hwy. 17 for a debriefing. Several units remained on the scene in the Winding Stair subdivision into the early morning hours as investigators combed through the site.

Speculation as to what prompted the shooting spread quickly through social media as the Habersham County community learned what was happening. Sources close to the family tell Now Habersham there was a volatile history between Giaquinta and his ex-wife. Foreboding posts were made to her Facebook page on New Year’s. However, posts made by Kathy Smith just prior to her death gave no indication of trouble.

Giaquinta was a former military contractor and K-9 sergeant with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. He was fired from his job with the Sheriff’s Office two years ago because of allegations of domestic violence.

Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell is back home in Habersham, just hours after allegedly being shot by a former deputy. Terrell was wounded while responding to a 911 call about a domestic dispute in the Winding Stair subdivision off Hwy. 17. Deputy Bill Zigan was with him. He was shot multiple times.

Returning to the scene just hours after the initial call went out, Sheriff Terrell spoke exclusively with Now Habersham about his and Zigan’s conditions. He also responded to the overwhelming outpouring of community interest and concern:

“We did have an incident. I’m doing good. I did have to go to the emergency room. Bill Zigan’s going to spend the night in the hospital but he’s doing okay. We appreciate all your prayers and all your thoughts for his family and the other families affected tonight.”

Terrell was shot in the arm. Early reports indicated Zigan was hit in the shoulder. The alleged shooter, Anthony Giaquinta, was a former deputy and k-9 dog handler.

Three people are confirmed dead in an apparent double-murder suicide at a home in the Winding Stair subdivision off of Highway 17 in Clarkesville. Authorities have confirmed the identities of two of the victims; Kathy Smith and Anthony Giaquinta, the alleged shooter. Giaquinta was Smith’s ex-husband and a former Habersham County deputy and K-9 handler. The identity of the third victim has not yet been confirmed.

GBI Deputy Director Rusty Andrews says the incident began around 7:30pm when emergency dispatch received a 911 call about a domestic dispute with shots fired at 281 Lower Pond Court. Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell and Deputy Bill Zigan responded to the call. Andrews says when they arrived they found a woman dead in the garage. “They made entry into the residence to see if there were other victims inside. Upon making entry it appears that they were ambushed by a male.” Andrews says that man, identified as Giaquinta, shot Sheriff Terrell one time and Zigan multiple times. Both officers returned fire. Andrews says, “Giaquinta fled the residence, got into a vehicle and drove a short distance away from the residence where he abandoned the vehicle.”

A massive manhunt was launched involving officers from numerous state and local agencies. Residents in the area were alerted by homeowner’s associations and local media to stay inside and lock their doors. Around 9:30pm officers received reports of shots fired. Two hours later, officials announced that Giaquinta and another man were found dead outside the residence. Andrews says it appears Giaquinta shot the other man then killed himself.

One of the couple’s two daughters was inside the home at the time of the shooting. She managed to escape the scene without injury.

Both Terrell and Zigan were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. Terrell was released several hours later (See Sheriff released from hospital). Zigan remains hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries.

Officers remained on the scene into the early morning hours. The case remains under investigation.