In the late afternoon of March 17, 2017, a domestic dispute in the parking lot of an Ingles grocery store in Auburn, Georgia, ended in tragedy. Dorothy Russell, a 51-year-old female, was found in her vehicle with a gunshot wound. First responders were called to the scene at approximately 5:00 p.m., but Dorothy Russell succumbed to her injuries and died in the parking lot.
An autopsy was later scheduled to be performed at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in Decatur.
The primary suspect in the shooting was identified as Dorothy's 50-year-old husband, Darrin Russell. Witnesses reported seeing him leave the scene of the shooting. About an hour after the incident, deputies from the Barrow County Sheriff's Office located and arrested Darrin Russell without incident. He was subsequently charged with one count of murder and booked into the Barrow County Jail.
The death of Dorothy Russell, a paraprofessional at Auburn Elementary School, was a shock to the community. Those who knew her remembered her bright smile and the positive impact she had on both students and staff. In the wake of her death, a team of counselors was made available at the school to provide support to those grieving her loss. Darrin Russell appeared in court in Barrow County following his arrest, and the case was transferred to the Superior Court for further proceedings.
