FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Hall County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the victim and gunman in a weekend murder-suicide in Flowery Branch. The incident unfolded as their nine-year-old daughter hid in an upstairs closet and called for help.
The sheriff’s office identified the victim as Mallory Jane Whitaker, 50, of Gainesville. Investigators say Adrian Gabriele Alexander, 51, of Flowery Branch, shot and killed Whitaker before turning the gun on himself. The pair were the parents of the child who was inside the home when the violence erupted.
The girl was not physically hurt.
Deputies were called to the home on the 5400 block of Bushnell Court just before 3 p.m. Saturday, November 1. They found Whitaker dead near the doorway. Alexander was discovered in the basement with a single self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Investigators say the child witnessed the shooting, ran upstairs, and hid in a bedroom closet. She used FaceTime to reach a friend. The friend alerted their parents, who called 911.
Sheriff’s officials say Whitaker suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
DFCS responded to assist at the scene, and the child is now with relatives.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to determine what led to the shooting. Authorities released the names after notifying out-of-state family members.
