Gainesville Woman Charged With Felony Murder in Fatal Shooting of Live-In Partner

Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) investigators have charged a Gainesville woman with felony murder following the early morning shooting death of a man at a residence in Gainesville on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

At approximately 1:15 a.m., deputies responded to a home in the 4200 block of Bayridge Drive off C Rogers Road, where they found an unresponsive man in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to the torso. Hall County Fire Rescue transported the victim to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators identified the deceased as 68-year-old James David Barron of Gainesville. His next of kin has been notified.

According to the initial investigation, Suzanne Renee Mericle, 61, shot Barron with a handgun. The two lived together and were in a relationship. Mericle was at the residence when deputies arrived.

Mericle has been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault under the Family Violence Act, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. She was arrested and remains held without bond at the Hall County Jail.

The case remains under investigation.