FORMER employee shoots three, then kills himself at suburban Home Depot store

Saturday, July 14th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MORROW, Ga. (AP) _ A former employee of a suburban Atlanta Home Depot fatally shot two people and wounded another at the store Saturday, and then killed himself after police arrived, authorities said.

Police believe one of the dead, 20-year-old Lisa Atkins, also a former employee, was the shooter's girlfriend.

The gunman, identified as Brandon Bolton, 22, apparently chased Atkins to the store planning to shoot her, Clayton County sheriff's Maj. Doug Jewett said.

Atkins was shot multiple times, including at least once in the head, Jewett said. The other person killed was Tiffany Busch, 27, who was shot in the head and died in surgery.

Maurice Jenkins, 31, was shot in the arm and back and was in stable condition.

After shots were fired, Bolton ran out of the store and two police officers fired at him and missed, Jewett said. Bolton then went back into the store and shot himself after he was cornered in one of the aisles, Jewett said.

Police said all three victims were shot inside the store at about 8 a.m., just as it was opening for the day.

Jewett said Bolton's mother called 911 to report that he had taken her car without permission and planned to shoot his girlfriend. A second 911 call reported that he had chased his girlfriend to the Home Depot store about 15 miles south of Atlanta.

``We don't know what led up to this,'' Jewett said.

Police don't know why Atkins drove to the store, but said she ran inside seeking help because Bolton was chasing her. Police aren't sure why the other people were shot.

``I think they were just close by,'' Jewett said. ``She was in there trying to get help, and they were standing nearby.''