MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CRIME & JUSTICE

Jacob Muse: Man arrested for brutally killing Georgia gun shop owner, his wife and teen grandson

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation revealed that Jacob Christian Muse, of College Park, was charged with three counts of malice murder

GRANTVILLE, GEORGIA: Police have taken into custody a 21-year-old man for the murder of a gun shop owner, his wife, and their teenage grandson who was visiting them on Spring Break.

In a press release on Friday, April 15, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation revealed that Jacob Christian Muse, of College Park, was charged with three counts of malice murder. The gruesome discovery was made last Friday, April 8, by Coweta County Coroner Richard Hawk at his parents' shooting range 'Lock Stock & Barrel' in Grantville, 50 miles southwest of Atlanta. Hawk arrived at the shop around 8 pm to find the bodies of his parents Thomas and Evelyn Hawk, both aged 75, and his 18-year-old son Luke, who he said was helping out his grandparents at the shop over Spring Break.

READ MORE

Video of brave jewelry store owner protecting his store from smash-and-grab mob goes viral

Why are gun sales surging? Women driving spike as ammo shortage begins to bite

The Hawks had reportedly operated the shop for nearly three decades, with a sign out front proclaiming it was "American owned & operated." Detectives revealed that as many as 40 guns and the range's surveillance camera were stolen from the shop. Muse was booked into the Coweta County Jail, albeit officers haven't released further details about his arrest. 

Police released the heartbreaking 911 call earlier this week that saw Hawk tell a dispatcher the store was "locked up" and that he couldn't get in to help his son, who he could see was bleeding. The coroner started the call by asking the dispatcher to send officers to the store as soon as possible. "I think somebody has robbed us and probably shot my family.. oh my God," he said. "The door is closed, the door is locked, everything is locked up. I see blood coming from my son's - I see blood coming from my son. I can't tell if anyone is dead or alive or what, but he's not moving, he doesn't look like he's breathing," Hawk added.

Hawk told the dispatcher that he believed his parents were also in the store and that they must send help as fast as possible. "My parents are also supposed to be here too, just get somebody down here quick," he said. When asked if he can perform CPR on his son, the embattled father said he was unable to get into the shop. "I can't even get in the door. Tell somebody to bring some lock cutters with them because I don't have my keys," he said. The dispatcher then asked if he knew who did it, to which he said he didn't and hung up the call. "No like I said - I am - I don't know, the door's shut up, everything is shut up, oh my gosh," he agonized.

The Hawk family released a statement following the murders, urging the public to grant them privacy in this difficult time. "Three beloved members of the Hawk family were taken too soon. We are heartbroken and our loss seems insurmountable. Please respect our family's privacy during this time. With God, we must grieve and heal as a family," the family said, thanking the community for its support following the disturbing crime. "It is so meaningful that so many in our community cherished them as we did and want to help shine a light in the darkness. Tommy, Evelyn, and Luke will forever be in our hearts," the statement added.

Police Chief Steve Whitlock said that the crime was more puzzling considering that the Hawks had close ties to the community. "These were just nice, easygoing people," Whitlock told reporters. "I really have a hard time understanding what happened here." As the small Georgia community reeled under the shocking incident, the Hawks' loved ones set up a GoFundMe to cover funeral and related costs. The fundraiser had already crossed $26,000 of its original $10,000 goal at the time of publication.