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Golf pro was not targeted in Cobb County country club triple homicide, police say

Cobb Police say there's no directed threat to the community and Gene Siller was killed because he witnessed an active crime.

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — According to authorities, a golf pro who was killed in a triple homicide at a Cobb County country club over the Fourth of July weekend was not targeted. 

The deadly shooting happened on 3400 McCollum Parkway at the Pinetree Country Club around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 3.

RELATED: What we know about the Cobb County country club triple homicide

Cobb County Police said officers arrived at the scene and found a man shot in the head on the 10th hole green. 

A member of the club said the alleged shooter drove his car to the 10th fairway of the country club’s golf course. The member said that's when Kennesaw golf pro and country club director Gene Siller went to check on what was going on and was shot. 

RELATED: Kennesaw golf pro identified as victim in shooting at Cobb County Country club, a member says

A witness told police he heard five gunshots in a row.

During the investigation officers also located the bodies of two more victims, according to additional details released by the police department on Sunday.

Investigators found two men shot to death in the bed of a Ram 3500 pick-up truck at the country club's golf course. One of the men, 76-year-old Paul Pierson, was the owner of the Ram 3500 and the other man's identity has yet to be released.

According to police, Siller was in no way targeted in the shooting and was killed because he witnessed a crime. Police say he stumbled upon the crime in progress involving the other man, Pierson, and the suspect.

Police said Pierson and the other unidentified victim appear to have no relation to the country club. A family friend of Pierson's said he lives out of town and was in Atlanta on a business trip.

Police are still looking for the suspect who allegedly shot and killed those three people on Saturday, however, they believe there is currently no active threat to the community nor was there a threat directed to residents in the area.

The fatal incident is still under investigation and police don't have further details on a motive or what led up to the shooting at this time. 

"Detectives, along with numerous other special units, continue to follow active leads in this case. We are aware that the public has many questions, the most pressing one being why this happened; however, it is too early in the investigation to speculate as to motive," a release from Cobb Police states.

Siller’s widow, Ashley, Tuesday afternoon told NBC News, “I loved him very dearly, and I am very sad.” 

His colleague of a year and a half, Corey Evans, who is also the lead golf instructor at the country club, said when he met Siller, they hit it off immediately.

"He's always been the type of person to give you the shirt off his back," he said.

Evans said he was about 450 yards from the 10th hole, where the incident happened. He remembers thinking the noises were fireworks. Unfortunately, the noise was gunshots.

"A couple of more seconds go by and I see someone laying on the ground," he recalled. "At this time I still had no idea it was Gene. So, I had no idea what we were witnessing at the time."

Cobb County Police left letters in mailboxes of residents who live near the country club Tuesday, giving them an update on the investigation. 

In it, the department also ensured that there is no active threat to the community.

Credit: Provided

"I actually saw the guy running across the fairway into the trees," added Evans. "That's what caught my eye. We could see what color of shirt he was wearing. Couldn't tell anything apart from that: male, white colored shirt."

Despite what the letter has to say, some Pinetree members are remaining vigilant.

"I don't see how it couldn't be a threat to the community," said Red Edwards. "Because he is still on the run."

"I don't know how he got away without somebody seeing him," added Charles McFall. "That's the thing. It was 2:30 in the afternoon. Golf course was full."

The country club has been closed since the incident happened Saturday. Evans said it will reopen Wednesday.

A fundraiser posted to GoFundMe has been set by friends and community members in an effort to raise funds for Siller's family. Evans asks that you keep the family in your prayers.

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