The suspect in a New Year’s Day shooting of a Rockmart teen turned himself in Thursday, Jan. 6, police said.

According to David Gowens with Rockmart police, Jermaine Ware, 34, met Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells and Cedartown Police Chief Henry King and surrendered at the Ingle’s parking lot in Rockmart.

Ware, 34, faces charges of felony murder and aggravated assault. Additional charges may be added, Gowens said.

He is accused of shooting Rodney Artez Mitchell, 16, in the head while at the intersection of Gordon and Church streets.

Sorrells said Ware has asked for an attorney and has not given any indication as to why he allegedly shot the teenager.

Another man, identified as Vincent Morris Jr., age and address unavailable, was arrested early Tuesday morning and charged with hindering the apprehension of a fugitive. He has been released on bond.

Previously reported

Rockmart Police identified the 16-year-old shot to death in Rockmart on the morning of Jan. 1 and continued their search Jan. 3 for the suspect.

Rodney Arzez Mitchell Jr. was found lying in the street in the area of Gordon and Church streets in Rockmart at about 9 a.m. Jan. 1.

Police withheld the victim’s name for two days until the coroner’s office was able to verify that his family was notified.

Rockmart Police Department detective David Gowens said Jermaine Ware, 34, is suspected in the murder.

Police have been searching for Ware since he was identified by witnesses as the shooter Saturday morning.

A vehicle was recovered Jan. 2 that was possibly “associated” with Ware, Gowens said.

Gowens said on Jan. 3 that he was not ready to release additional information about the shooting, as the incident remains under investigation.

Posted Jan. 2

Police continued to search Sunday evening, Jan. 2, for the suspected gunman in Jan. 1’s slaying of a Rockmart teen.

Rockmart Police Department detective David Gowens said Jermaine Ware, 34, faces charges of felony murder and aggravated assault. Additional charges may be added, Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells said.

Ware’s last known residence was on Collard Valley Road, near Cedartown, according to Polk County Sheriff’s Office records.

Police believe Ware is the man who shot and killed a 16-year-old youth in the area of Gordon and Church streets in Rockmart around 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 1. The teen died of a gunshot wound to the head and was found lying in the street, officials said.

The victim’s name has not been released.

Sorrells said late Sunday, Jan. 2, he was still waiting on confirmation from Polk County Assistant Coroner Tony Brazier that the victim’s family has been notified.

Gowens said Sunday, Jan. 2, he was not ready to release additional information about the shooting, as the incident remains under investigation.

A vehicle was recovered the morning of Jan. 2 that possibly was “associated” with Ware, Gowens said.

The nature of any conflict between the suspect and victim has not been publicly revealed. However, Sorrells said Ware and the victim knew each other.

According to sheriff’s office records, Ware has had repeated arrests, including several for drug-related crimes. Booking reports show Ware was jailed in November and released on Christmas Eve.

From Jan. 2: Rockmart teen dies after shooting

A Rockmart teenager died of a gunshot wound to the head the morning of Jan. 1 and the death is being investigated as a homicide, according to Polk County Deputy Coroner Tony Brazier and Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells.

According to Brazier and Sorrells:

Police responded to a call of shots fired in the area of Gordon and Church streets in Rockmart around 9 a.m. Saturday, and found the 16-year-old in the street.

The teenager, whose name was not released pending notification of immediate family, was taken to Floyd Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 11:15 a.m.

Police are searching for a suspect but do not know why the shooting occurred. Sorrells said the suspect and the victim knew each other.