A tragic late-night shooting outside a Family Dollar store on North Broad Street in Rome, Georgia, has left a 22-year-old man dead and sparked an active manhunt for a suspect considered armed and dangerous.
According to the Rome Police Department, officers responded shortly after 12:40 a.m. on Sunday, April 19, following multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire in the area. When police arrived, they found a young male victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound near the store’s entrance. The victim, later identified as 22-year-old Chancellore Jabez Donaldson, was quickly transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Despite emergency medical efforts, he later died from his injuries.
Investigators immediately secured the scene, closing off the area along North Broad Street NE while crime scene units collected evidence, including shell casings and surveillance footage from nearby businesses. Witnesses were also interviewed as part of the early investigation.
Within hours, detectives identified a suspect and obtained arrest warrants for 25-year-old Chancelor Lamar Crawford. He has been charged with felony murder in connection with Donaldson’s death. Authorities noted that under Georgia law, felony murder applies when a death occurs during the commission of a dangerous felony, regardless of intent.
Police describe Crawford as a Black male, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing around 160 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He is currently considered armed and dangerous, and officials believe he may still be in possession of the firearm used in the shooting.
Law enforcement agencies are actively searching for Crawford, with assistance from regional and federal partners, including the U.S. Marshals Service. Investigators believe he may still be in northwest Georgia, possibly Floyd County or surrounding areas, though there is also concern he could have traveled toward metro Atlanta.
The motive for the shooting has not yet been confirmed. Authorities are still working to determine whether the victim and suspect knew each other or if the incident stemmed from a dispute or other circumstances.
The death of Donaldson has deeply affected his community. Friends describe him as a kind, outgoing young man with a bright personality. Social media tributes continue to grow as loved ones mourn his loss and call for justice.
Rome Police are urging anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that even small tips could help locate the suspect. They stress that Crawford should not be approached if seen, but instead reported immediately to law enforcement.
