Man kills lawyer representing wife in divorce, then kills himself, police say

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — Investigators said a man who shot and killed a prominent divorce attorney in Bartow County also killed himself.

Officials said Attorney Antonio Mari was wrapping up his day at his law office on North Tennessee Street in Cartersville when a gunman walked in and shot him several times. Investigators found Mari dead on the scene.

"There was no forced entry inside the business for the attorney. He was shot multiple times," said Lt. Mike Bettikofer with Cartersville Police Department. "The attorney didn't know he was coming into the door. The doors were open for business like it typically would be, and that's when the suspect came in and fired three shots."

Officials said Walter Radford, the man accused in Mari's shooting, then drove to his ex-wife's home on Willow Bend Drive, broke in, and shot himself. Police told Channel 2 Action News his ex-wife, Cindy Radford, was not at home at the time of the shooting.

Investigators believe Walter Radford called the woman before he committed suicide.

"Nobody saw him leaving the attorney’s office. 911 received a call from his ex-wife, stating that could’ve happened," Bettikofer said.

Investigators said Mari represented Cindy Radford in a divorce that was finalized just hours before the murder.

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"It appears a temporary protective order was served," Bettikofer said.

Police said there were no witnesses to the murder at the law office. Mari was the only one in the office at the time.

"It's a loss on all families that's involved," neighbor Sarah Smith said.

Smith held back tears when she spoke about her longtime neighbor.

"I'm sorry for their loss, and we can just pray for them and hope they can move forward," Smith said.

Cox Media Group