Khalaf Barksdale, Akeela Clarke Obituary, Death – Authorities in Georgia reported that two people were killed Friday morning following a shooting incident at a Covington Walmart and a nearby home. The incident unfolded around 1:30 a.m. when Newton County deputies were called to the Walmart Supercenter on Salem Road. At the time, the store was closed, and only employees were inside.
Deputies revealed that one of the employees, 24-year-old Dwayne Eduh, left the store, retrieved a gun, and returned to the Walmart, where he shot and killed another employee. Eduh then encountered a second employee outside the store and shot him as well. This second victim was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but survived.
After the initial shooting, Eduh drove about two miles away to a residence on Emerson Trail. There, he broke into a house and fatally shot a woman, later identified as Akeela Clarke, who was also a coworker. In total, Eduh’s actions left two people dead: Khalaf Barksdale, 21, and Akeela Clarke, 19. Ryan Bradley, 29, was the employee who survived the Walmart shooting and was reported to be in stable condition after being hospitalized.
Authorities emphasized that this was not an active shooter situation. Instead, Eduh specifically targeted individuals he knew, which was confirmed by the sheriff’s office. Following the shootings, Eduh fled the scene and was eventually located in Aiken, South Carolina, about 150 miles from Covington. There, he was apprehended by Aiken County deputies after a standoff on Interstate 20. During the standoff, Eduh shot himself and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Fortunately, no deputies were injured during the confrontation.
The tragic deaths have left a significant impact on the victims’ families and the local community. Akeela Clarke’s sister expressed the devastating emotional toll on their family in an online fundraiser, describing her as a vibrant and joyful person. She added that no parent should ever have to endure such a loss, let alone witness the death of their child.
Walmart released a statement expressing their heartbreak over the tragic events, stating that there is “no place for violence in our stores.” The company pledged to focus on supporting their associates and cooperating with law enforcement throughout the investigation.
In light of the tragedy, the Walmart store in Covington was closed on Friday, and the investigation into the incident continued. This incident marked the second time the Covington Walmart had been involved in violence between employees. Last October, two men were arrested after firing shots at each other during an altercation in the store’s parking lot.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are working to piece together the motivations behind Eduh’s actions. The incident has raised concerns about workplace violence and the safety of employees, with local authorities and Walmart working together to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated.