WAYCROSS, Ga. – Waycross police said they are on the hunt Thursday night for whoever murdered a man and woman inside their Waycross home while children were inside.
Officers responding to a robbery reported in the 900 block of Glenmore Avenue, about 1:35 a.m. found a man and a woman shot to death.
Waycross Police Capt. Benji Hersey said there were four children in the house at the time, but were not injured hurt. They are now in the care of family members.
Police identified the victims as Alonzo Brown, 41, and Yolanda Faison, 31.
"Y'all cowards are going around killing people's children. You just need to stop," Sandra Power, Faison's mother, said.
Police said the victims were not married, but lived together and were parents of at least some of the children.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family," Hersey said. "One of our departmental chaplains was with the family and children. We actually prayed with the family. I can't express how much of a tragedy this is for us."
A couple dozen members of the victims' families came out overnight and Thursday. Faison's father is relying on his faith to get through the death of his only daughter.
"I'm the father of five boys and one girl. She's the baby," William Faison said. "We need to control this violence. Everybody needs to come together and be bonded as one and cut the violence out. Just cut it out."
Sharon Kirkland, Yolanda Faison's aunt, said she had dated Brown for several years.
"He's been good to us," Kirkland said. "We're going to have to take care of my nieces and nephews. We're gonna bring them back to Jacksonville. We are a close-knit family and we will make sure the kids are taken care of."
"Now the kids have to grow up without a father because of a senseless crime," said Faison's sister, Ashanti Green.
Hersey said police were looking for one or more people in connection with the robbery and shootings, but had no name or description at this time.
Asked if the public should be worried, Hersey said, "We have no suspect and no one in custody. I would be concerned."
Anyone with any information is asked to call Waycross police at 912-287-2921 or the department's anonymous tip line at 921-287-2924.
"They will be caught, one way or another," William Faison said. "Whoever done it ,you will be caught. Believe that."