GBI: Suspect in deadly Rockmart shooting taken into custody
ROCKMART, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the gunman who killed four people at two separate locations in Rockmart was taken into custody Sunday night.
App users: View full article here
In a tweet the GBI said, Daylon Gamble was taken into custody in Indianapolis without incident.
According to the GBI, the U.S. Marshal's along with the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force learned Gamble had left Georgia and contacted U.S. Marshal's services in Indianapolis.
The GBI had previously released the names of the four victims, and the name of the person injured at one of those scenes was also released as authorities searched for the suspected gunman.
The GBI said Helen Rose Mitchell, 48, and Jaequnn Davis, 19, were killed in a home at 319 Williamson Street. Peerless Brown, 24, was critically shot and rushed by air ambulance to Atlanta Medical Center where HE remained Friday. Police said Davis was carjacked and killed at the location.
About three blocks away at an apartment on 503 Rome Street investigators found the bodies of 24-year-old Arkeyla Perry and 26-year-old Dadrian Cummings. The apartment is part of the Northwest Georgia Housing Authority. Cummings parents tell FOX 5's Aungelique Proctor they are stunned at who is accused. They say their son had recently taken murder suspect Daylon Gamble shopping.
"They were very close. Every day this week that I came home from work he was here. He was here with my son and that is the reason I just can't believe he would do something like that. And I wonder why," a tearful Tamara James questioned.
Dadrian's father says his son was mentoring murder suspect Gamble who they say had just got out of prison.
GBI investigators believe all five were shot by 27-year-old Daylon Delon Gamble. There was a massive manhunt as investigators worked to find Gamble.
The shooting happened January 24 just after 8 p.m. Investigators still have not released a motive behind the shooting, but did say Gamble is believed to have stolen a Ford truck which was later recovered by Bartow County authorities.
"They were targeted, but I don't know why. I have no idea why," Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells said, adding that it didn't appear to be a home invasion or any signs of forced entry at either location. "There was a black Ford Ranger parked in the area of the first shooting, but we're not sure they're involved. We're just not sure about that."
"I am not supposed to be burying him. He should be burying me," Tamara James said expressing the pain and heartbreak of losing her only son.
James and her son's father have so many questions because they say Dadrian Cummings and murder suspect Daylon Gamble were inseparable.
Shirley Mitchell said one of the dead women was her daughter, long-time McDonald's employee Helen Mitchell, affectionately called "Rose" by family. She also said her grandson, Rose's 20-year-old son Peerless Brown was shot, but is the only one of the five to survive. A family friend, like most people in this small rural town, is asking why this happened.
"He is raised up with the boys, he knew all of them. They were raised up together and he just went crazy," said Felicia Rush, one of the victim's friends.
Several people in the community stopped by Friday to show support, as the family has one burning question.
"I can't believe it. All I want to know is why. What was the motive? As good as my son has been to you," said Eric Cummings, Dadrian's father.
A spokesperson with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said agents from three different field offices responded to the shooting scenes. The chief said law enforcement officers from Polk, Bartow, Paulding Haralson, and Floyd counties, as well as Cedartown and Cartersville, responded to help. The GBI said Friday the FBI and U.S. Marshal's Service were also involved.
Rockmart is located in Polk County, Georgia, about 40 miles northwest of Atlanta.