In the quiet Dogwood Lakes subdivision of Hampton, Georgia, a Saturday morning was shattered by unexpected violence that claimed the life of 67-year-old Scott Leavitt and three of his neighbors. On July 15, 2023, what began as an ordinary day in the peaceful community, located about 25 miles south of Atlanta, quickly devolved into a scene of a mass shooting, the first homicide in Hampton since 2018. The tranquility was broken when Andre Longmore, 40, a resident of the same neighborhood, began a shooting spree that would leave four people dead in a span of just ten minutes.
Scott Leavitt, along with his 66-year-old wife Shirley, were among the victims of the rampage. Also killed were their neighbors, 65-year-old Steve Blizzard and 66-year-old Ronald Jeffers. The motive for the killings remains under investigation, though the victims were all residents of the same subdivision as the shooter. A neighbor who witnessed the event described Longmore as appearing to be calm and deliberate as he fired a silver handgun before walking away from the scene.
The shootings triggered a massive manhunt for Longmore, who was considered armed and dangerous. The search concluded the following day in Jonesboro, a suburb about 15 miles north of Hampton. When law enforcement officers located Longmore, a shootout ensued. In the exchange of gunfire, Longmore was killed, and a Henry County sheriff's deputy and a Clayton County police officer were wounded. Both officers were expected to recover from their injuries.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, it was revealed that Longmore's mother had sought mental health treatment for him for nearly a decade, but he had refused help. She stated that her son had experienced a 'mental breakdown' in 2014 and his condition had continued to deteriorate. She expressed her sorrow for the victims and their families. Scott and Shirley Leavitt were remembered as loving parents and hardworking people. They had been married for 46 years and were described as still acting like newlyweds. A family friend noted that their heroic actions during the attack ensured the survival of their daughter Jessica and her two young children who were home at the time.
