(Photo credit: WRGA)

Two individuals have been arrested in connection to a shooting in the Alto Plaza shopping center that sent a man to the hospital. The shooting took place just three days before the 29th birthday of one of the suspects.

The Rome Police Department said that around 6:45 AM Wednesday, the RPD received a 9-1-1 call from a resident in the area who reported hearing several gunshots. When they arrived at the scene at 440 Shorter Avenue, they found the victim lying in the parking lot of Buffalo’s Cafe & Express with a bullet wound in his back. The victim, identified as 43-year-old Sigmund Deaslo White, was alive and officers administered aid until EMS personnel arrived to take over. Mr. White was transported to Floyd Medical Center where he underwent surgery. The last report on the victim’s condition was that he was in stable condition.

The offenders were not present at the scene when officers arrived. Criminal investigators collected crime scene evidence at the scene. Information provided by Mr. White led the investigators to a location on Burnett Ferry Road, where the suspects were located in a red truck and arrested around 11:30 AM, less than five hours after the incident.

The suspects are 35-year-old Nicole Lynn Hill (white, female), and 28-year-old Michael Wade Hastings, (white, male). Saturday will be Hastings’ birthday.

Hill had an outstanding Failure to Appear warrant on a previous drug charge. Hastings is currently charged with Aggravated Assault. Additional charges against both suspects are pending as evidence and testimony are collected.

The RPD is asking anyone with any information concerning the investigation to contact Lt. John Walters at (706)-238-5122.