According to authorities:
The suspect, 59-year-old James Benson, drove to the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department,
which is less than two miles away, and turned himself in after the incident.
He is being held in the Walker County jail without bond on two counts of murder. He was scheduled to appear in court Saturday in Walker County.
The two victims, the man’s estranged wife, 56-year-old Mary Sue Benson, and his mother-in-law, 77-year-old Charlotte Johnson, were visiting Johnson’s other daughter at the hospital. The shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute that had being ongoing for several weeks.
After an argument broke out in the hospital, James Benson was asked to leave, authorities said. He went to his car, which was parked out front, and returned with a gun.
After shooting the two women, James Benson left and drove to the Fort Oglethorpe police station and turned himself in.
A hospital employee called 911.
Both women died later of gunshot wounds to the chest.
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FORT OGLETHORPE -- A Chattanooga man allegedly shot and killed his estranged wife and mother-in-law in the ICU waiting room at Erlanger at Hutcheson hospital in Fort Oglethorpe Friday night.
The suspect, 50-year-old James L. Benson, turned himself in to the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department, authorities said.
The man’s wife and his mother-in-law were visiting a relative at on the second floor of Erlanger at Hutcheson. The 6 p.m. shooting allegedly stemmed from a domestic dispute but authorities did not release any details about the motive.
The hospital immediately went into lockdown for the safety of employees, patients and the victims’ family. However, no hospital staff or patients were injured.
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