Georgia man Christopher Whitmore shoots dead wife and eight-year-old son in gas station forecourt before turning gun on himself

A husband shot dead his eight-year-old son and wife before killing himself at a gas station in Georgia last night.

Christopher Whitmore, 36, pulled up behind to where his wife was parked with their son Grayden in the backseat and killed his child before tuing the gun on Melissa Ball, 27, and then himself.

Police said Ball and Whitmore had a history of domestic issues and were separated - but at this stage it is unclear what motivated the horrific shooting in Vaell.

Ball was seen pulling into the joint Shell station and McDonald's in her Ford Focus at around 7pm, when her husband drove up behind her in his 2010 Dodge.

Killed his family: Christopher Whitmore murdered his wife Melissa Ball (left), 27, and their eight-year-old son Grayden (pictured together, right) before tuing the gun on himself at a gas station in Georgia last night

Both had got out of their cars when Whitmore drew a handgun and started shooting.

A Tennessee man named Jeff Holmes, who said Ball was his niece, wrote on Facebook: 'Please pray for our family. My beautiful neice Melissa Ball and her son Grayden were taken from us tonight in Vaell Georgia. We are in total shock.'

According to her Facebook page, Ball worked at a pediatrician's office in Dalton. Police say all of the victims lived in Beaverdale, around ten miles east of Vaell, New York Daily News reports.

Horrific shooting: A gas station in Vaell, Georgia was seen cordoned off last night after Christopher Whitmore shot his son, wife and then himself

A recent picture of her has attracted a flood of comments from bereaved friends, with one writing 'such an angel' and another posting 'miss you so much already dear friend'.  

Sheriff Scott Chitwood told The Dalton Daily Citizen the couple had 'domestic issues'. 

Police received the call at 6:49pm that people had been shot in the parking lot of a convenience center at 3896 Cleveland Highway.

Chitwood added: 'Investigators have determined Ms Ball pulled up to a gas pump at the Shell station in her 2013 Ford Focus and immediately after she pulled up Christopher Eric Whitmore drove up and parked directly behind her. 

Investigation underway: Police said Ball and Whitmore had a history of domestic issues and were separated

'They both exited their cars and both walked to the back door (passenger side) of the 2010 Dodge Mr Whitmore was driving. 

'Investigators determined at that time Christopher Eric Whitmore pulled out a handgun and shot their son while he was sitting in the back seat of the Dodge. 

'Whitmore then immediately pointed the gun at Ms. Ball and shot her, and then shot himself.'