Shooting rampage at convenience stores leaves 1 dead, another critically injured

Lamar Nicholson is accused of shooting and killing someone while robbing Elm Street Food and Beverage store.

Credit: Floyd County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Floyd County Sheriff's Office

Lamar Nicholson is accused of shooting and killing someone while robbing Elm Street Food and Beverage store.

Minutes after he walked into a northwest Georgia convenience store, pulled out a gun and killed the owner, police say a man went to another store, opened fire and seriously injured a clerk.

Investigators aren’t sure why Lamar Rashad Nicholson went on a shooting rampage just before 8:50 p.m. Tuesday in Rome.

All they know is he went to Hi Tech Quick Stop in the 500 block of Burnett Ferry Road with a gun and shot a man multiple times, according to a police report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The victim, identified by the Floyd County coroner as Parmjit Singh, died on the scene. Singh, 44, of Rome, was the owner of the store, the Rome News-Tribune reported.

Less than 10 minutes later, Nicholson went to Elm Street Food and Beverage with a gun and attempted to rob that store, located in the 200 block of North Elm Street, police said in the report.

According to the police report, he took money before shooting someone.

The News-Tribune identified that victim as store clerk Parthey Patel. Patel, 30, is in critical condition at Floyd Medical Center, the newspaper reported.

Nicholson, 28, of Rome, was eventually arrested on multiple charges.

In the first incident, he faces charges of murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and use of a firearm by a convicted felon, police said.

In the second, he faces charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of firearm by a convicted felon, according to the report.

Nicholson is no stranger to law enforcement. He was arrested Jan. 9 after he violently snatched a 3-year-old girl by the arm and cursed in front of her and another child, authorities said.

Nicholson was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct, two counts of cruelty to children and one count of simple battery charge in connection with that incident.

He is being held in the Floyd County Jail on the latest charges.

We’re working to learn more.

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