James Nicholas Fabrizio was a 28-year-old man living in Douglas, Georgia, a small community in the southern part of the state with fewer than 12,000 residents. He lived in a home on Robin Lane in the Touchton Woods neighborhood with his parents, John and Rachel Fabrizio, his younger brother, William, and his brother's girlfriend, Rosaida Figueroa Berrios.
The night of Friday, October 9, 2026, turned tragic in their South Georgia home.
At approximately 11:09 p.m., a call was made to 911 from the residence. Police later identified the caller as James's mother, 64-year-old Rachel Fabrizio. She reportedly complained that her husband, John Anthony Fabrizio, 64, was smoking inside the house and that the smoke was "killing her." What began as a seemingly domestic complaint escalated into an active shooter situation by the time officers from the Douglas Police Department and deputies from the Coffee County Sheriff's Office arrived.
When law enforcement entered the home, they discovered a horrific scene. Four adults were found dead inside from gunshot wounds. A fifth person was found critically injured and was rushed to Coffee Regional Medical Center, but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The victims were later identified as James Nicholas Fabrizio; his mother, Rachel Elizabeth Fabrizio; his 26-year-old brother, William Christopher Fabrizio; and William’s girlfriend, 26-year-old Rosaida Figueroa Berrios. The shooter was identified as James's father, John Anthony Fabrizio.
Investigators from the Douglas Police Department processed the scene, collecting physical and digital evidence. Based on their initial findings, they concluded that John Anthony Fabrizio fatally shot his wife, his two sons, and his son's girlfriend before turning the gun on himself. The incident was classified as an apparent murder-suicide. At the time of the shooting, John and Rachel Fabrizio, who had been married for 33 years, were in the process of a divorce, which she had filed for a month prior.
The violent loss of five family members sent shockwaves through the close-knit community of Douglas. Coffee County Sheriff Fred Cole described the scene as difficult for everyone who responded, including officers, deputies, dispatchers, and hospital personnel. “This was a hard scene for everybody involved,” he said at a news conference the following day. “We’re a close community, and we’re going to take care of each other.” Douglas Mayor Tony Paulk called the tragedy "heartbreaking," particularly as it occurred during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and urged the community to support one another.
As of October 2026, the Douglas Police Department confirmed that they were not seeking any additional suspects and that there was no ongoing threat to the public. While the preliminary investigation pointed to a murder-suicide, official autopsy results from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation were still pending. The motive for the shooting has not been publicly released.
The investigation remains ongoing. The Douglas Police Department extended its condolences to the victims' loved ones and asked the public to respect the family's privacy during their time of grief. Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Investigator Brittany O’Steen at (912) 384-2222 or via email at [email protected]. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Douglas Police Department Tip Line at (912) 260-3600.
