Hall County woman accused of shooting, killing man she was in a relationship with

A Gainesville woman, 61-year-old Suzanne Mericle, has been charged with murdering her boyfriend, 68-year-old James Barron, early Saturday morning, as reported by the Hall County Sheriff's Office. The incident occurred around 1:15 a.m. at their home on Bayridge Drive, where authorities discovered Barron shot and unresponsive.

Despite being rushed to the hospital, Barron later succumbed to his injuries. The circumstances surrounding the shooting led to Mericle's arrest on serious charges, including felony murder, aggravated assault under the Family Violence Act, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Mericle and Barron were reportedly living together at the time of the incident, and the nature of their relationship is currently under investigation. The Hall County Sheriff's Office is continuing to gather details regarding the case.

As the investigation develops, authorities have not released additional information about what led to the shooting. The community is understandably shaken by the incident, and many questions remain unanswered.

Atlanta News First will provide updates on the situation as more information becomes available.