A four hour manhunt for an armed gunman ended abruptly Sunday after authorities discovered the alleged shooter’s body outside the residence where they say he gunned down his ex-wife. GBI Deputy Director Rusty Andrews says Anthony Giaquinta’s body and that of an unidentified man were found around 11:30pm near the home of Kathy Smith in the Winding Stair subdivision just west of Clarkesville. Smith was found dead earlier in the evening by Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell and Deputy Bill Zigan. The officers discovered her body in the garage of her home at 281 Lower Pond Court while responding to a domestic violenand suce call with shots fired.
After discovering her body, Andrews says the officers made their way into the house to look for other possible victims and were apparently ambushed by Giaquinta. Terrell and Zigan were shot. Andrews says they returned fire and Giaquinta fled.
That sparked a massive multi-agency manhunt. Sirens screamed through the night as officers from throughout Habersham and surrounding counties, including Hall and Gwinnett, converged on the scene. Patrol officers and SWAT teams from the Georgia State Patrol as well as K-9 units assisted in the search for the shooter.
Hundreds of residents in the search area were left to wonder what was happening. Most learned through local and social media and phone calls that the situation was dangerous and they should stay indoors.
After the manhunt ended law enforcement gathered at Hayes Country Corner Store on Hwy. 17 for a debriefing. Several units remained on the scene in the Winding Stair subdivision into the early morning hours as investigators combed through the site.
Speculation as to what prompted the shooting spread quickly through social media as the Habersham County community learned what was happening. Sources close to the family tell Now Habersham there was a volatile history between Giaquinta and his ex-wife. Foreboding posts were made to her Facebook page on New Year’s. However, posts made by Kathy Smith just prior to her death gave no indication of trouble.
Giaquinta was a former military contractor and K-9 sergeant with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. He was fired from his job with the Sheriff’s Office two years ago because of allegations of domestic violence.
