Spectator shot to death at soccer game in Georgia

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Authorities say a spectator at a recreational soccer game was shot to death in a Hall County park, and a suspect was being questioned in the death.

The 46-year-old was shot repeatedly at close range around 5 p.m. Sunday at Tadmore Park on the county's east side, The Times of Gainesville reported.

The spectator and the gunman were both watching the game when they had some type of confrontation, Hall County sheriff's officials said in a statement. One of the men "quickly produced a handgun" and fired multiple times, sheriff's officials said.

The park was crowded with people at the time and the shooting took place in front of other spectators, but no one else was injured, Hall County sheriff's Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks said.

The suspect tried to leave the area but was stopped by two Hall County marshals who were working security, Wilbanks said.

"There's only one way in and one way out, and the (shooter) was running toward (the marshals) and they took him into custody at gunpoint," Wilbanks said.

He was being questioned by authorities, who later determined that the suspect and the victim knew each other.

"There's evidently a history between these two individuals that goes back to El Salvador, the full extent of which we don't know yet," Wilbanks said.

The park is about five miles southeast of downtown Gainesville.

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