Shooting at VFW leaves two dead

Authorities are investigating a double homicide that occurred early Sunday morning at a VFW post east of Magnolia in Columbia County.

Investigators identified the victims as Brandon T. Hobdy, 23, of Garland, Texas, and Wayne A. Payton, 24, of Magnolia.

Authorities were dispatched to 220 Arkansas 82 at 1:13 a.m. Sunday to a report of shots being fired. Hobdy and Payton were taken to Magnolia Regional Medical Center, one by ambulance and the other in a personal vehicle, according to a statement from the Columbia County sheriff's office. They later died.

Hobdy was a senior at Southern Arkansas University and a wide receiver on the football team, and Payton was a former SAU student.

According to a statement from SAU, the suspects in the shooting were removed from the VFW post after causing a disturbance. The suspects then retrieved a gun from their vehicle and fired at the crowd outside the building.

The sheriff's office, Magnolia police and SAU police are working together to investigate.

Metro on 08/25/2014

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