Floyd County Deputy Coroner Ernie Studard identified the man as Willie Terry Slack, 56. He died of gunshot wounds, Studard said.
Slack was found shot on the porch of 306 Kingston Ave at about 10:25 p.m.
Rome police detective Lt. Gary Clayton said he was unsure how many shots were fired but that they were investigating it as a homicide. Clayton said they had no witnesses who saw the shooting but did have people who heard the shots.
Slack was found sitting on the small front porch of the residence with his back leaning against the railing and wall to the right of the front door.
Police said the victim lived at 308 Kingston Ave., which is next door to where he was found, and that they believe he was shot somewhere between his driveway and the front of 306 Kingston Ave.
The woman who lived at 306 Kingston Ave. refused to comment on the incident and preferred not to identify herself. Police said they did not know what happened at the scene prior to the shooting nor were they aware of any motive or suspect.
A crowd of people gathered at the scene as officers taped off the crime scene in front of the two houses and the street. Investigators were still surveying the area late into the night.
Family members of the victim were seen visibly shaken as they clung to each other.
Yolandra Crittenden, who lives two houses down from 306 Kingston Ave., said she heard three gunshots but didn’t look outside as she thought at first that they were fireworks due to the holiday.
“The next thing we knew is we came outside and everybody was already out here by then,” Crittenden said.
Crittenden said she didn’t know who lived in the house where the shooting happened.
“This is a pretty quiet street,” she said. “Everybody normally stays to themselves around here.”








