An urgent search is underway for a suspected gunman after four people were killed and one person was critically injured in a shooting in northwest Georgia.
Daylon Delon Gamble, 27, is wanted by the GBI on four counts of murder after two shootings at nearby residences in Rockmart, the state agency said Friday morning. Both shootings were reported to Polk County 911 around 8 p.m. Thursday.
The bodies of Helen Rose Mitchell, 48, and Jaequnn Davis, 19, were found at a home in the 300 block of Williamson Street, the GBI said. About 300 yards away, the bodies of Arkeyla Perry, 24, and Dadrian Cummings, 26, were found at a house in the 500 block of Rome Street.
A fifth person, 24-year-old Peerless Brown, was shot in the face at the Williamson Street house and was flown to Atlanta Medical Center. The GBI said Friday he is being treated for his injuries.
“Daylon Gamble stole a Ford truck which has been recovered and fled both crime scenes,” the agency said on Twitter. “He is considered armed and very dangerous and is actively being sought by local, state and federal authorities at this time.”
Rockmart’s police Chief Keith Sorrells told Channel 2 Action News these are believed to be targeted attacks. There were no signs of forced entry at the two homes. The GBI did not disclose a motive or the relationship between Gamble and the shooting victims.
Two people from the Rome area told the news station they drove the 20 miles south to Rockmart, a small town of about 4,000 people, after hearing that one of the shootings happened at their relative’s house. Their relative was not hurt and had gone to Walmart during the shooting, but returned to find two bodies inside her home.
“It’s just unheard of in a small community like this,” Sorrells said.
Three GBI regional offices responded to the scene Thursday night, along with Rockmart and Polk County police departments and several other local agencies.
The GBI is urging anyone with information about Gamble’s whereabouts to contact the Rockmart Police Department at 770-784-6558 or call 911.
