Shooting suspect Mark Barton committed suicide in his van at a gas station north of Atlanta VIDEO Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell announces that the suspect in the shooting has committed suicide Windows Media 28K 80K Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell gives details on shooting (From CNN affiliates WXIA and WSB) Windows Media 28K 80K CEO of All-Tech Investment Group, Harvey Houtkin, talks about the Atlanta shootings Windows Media 28K 80K RELATED AUDIO: Charles Carter, who works at Two Security Center, describes what he saw 370K/31 sec. AIFF or WAV sound A witness who works on the third floor where the shootings occurred 156K/15 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Another witness talks about being caught up in the pandemonium 228K/21 sec. AIFF or WAV sound MESSAGE BOARDS: Message Board INTERACTIVE: Images of the Atlanta Shootings

July 29, 1999
Web posted at: 10:09 p.m. EDT (0209 GMT)

ATLANTA (CNN) -- A suspect in Thursday's shooting rampage at two Atlanta office buildings shot and killed himself Thursday night after being pulled over by police.

The body of Mark O. Barton, 44, was found at a gas station in suburban Cobb County, northwest of the city, in a dark green Ford Aerostar van.

Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell said Barton's suicide brought an end to "a long, difficult, unspeakable day."

Police had been conducting a massive search for Barton, who allegedly killed nine people and injured 12 others at two Atlanta stock day trading brokerages Thursday afternoon.

A few hours after the shootings, three of Barton's relatives were found in an apartment in Stockbridge, a suburb southeast of Atlanta, Henry County Police Det. Willy Rosser said.

Campbell said authorities believe the deaths in Stockbridge preceded the shootings in Atlanta and may have taken place several days ago. He said the slayings are believed to be linked and that the victims may be Barton's wife and children.

The coroner in Henry County, where Stockbridge is located, identified the victims as a 27-year-old woman, a 12-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl.

CNN has also learned that Barton's first wife and mother in- law -- Debra Spivey Barton, 36, and Eloise Spivey, 59 -- were hacked to death in a trailer near Cedar Bluff, Alabama, in 1993.

Cherokee County Sheriff Roy Wynn said no charges were ever filed in the case, but Barton was the lone suspect.

Thursday's shootings began about 3 p.m. at a day-trading firm at 3500 Piedmont Road, in the heart of the upscale Buckhead business district, killing four people. Campbell said Barton then went across the street to the building at 3522 Piedmont Road and killed five more people.

The mayor said a 9 mm handgun and a .45-caliber handgun were used in the shootings.

Barton was a former chemist who went into day trading stock and was concerned about financial losses

Campbell said Barton was a former chemist who went into day trading stock and was concerned about financial losses. Witnesses reported that Barton came into one of the trading offices where he once worked, had a brief conversation with the people inside noting that the stock market was down and then began shooting, Campbell said.

The rampage was the worst mass shooting in Atlanta's history. It came just two weeks after seven members of an extended family died in a murder-suicide in the city.

"We ask all of the people of Atlanta to pray for the families of those who have been killed and wounded," Campbell said.

Of the 12 people who were injured, seven were shot and five others were injured trying to escape, Campbell said.

Seven victims -- six men and one woman -- were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. Three were in critical condition, while four were in serious condition. Two other victims were taken to St. Joseph's Hospital and three to Northside Hospital, where one person was treated and released.

Harvey Houtkin, chairman and chief executive officer of All- Tech Investment Group, speaking to CNN from the company's New Jersey headquarters, said the gunman, whom he described as a former customer, entered the Atlanta branch office and shot the office manager and secretary at point-blank range.

The gunman then began firing on anyone inside the office before moving outside, Houtkin said.

"He was shooting anyone just sitting there," said Houtkin, who has been in touch with the branch office. "My emotions are so crazy right now I don't know what to say ... For something like this to happen is just crazy."

Workers at several office buildings in the area were evacuated in buses, while others were advised to stay put and take precautions.

As the afternoon progressed, more workers could be seen coming out of the building in groups. Police were searching the trunks of cars leaving the area.

Correspondents Martin Savidge and Brian Cabell contributed to this report.

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