MERIDIAN — Clarke County Sheriff Todd Kemp said the preliminary investigation into the shooting in Shubuta seems to strongly indicate this incident stemmed from a botched drug deal. Kemp said David Wayne Hales, 50, who lives on Decatur Street in Shubuta, was shot twice at about 1:45 p.m. Kemp said Hales was shot once in the abdomen and once in the right knee. Hales was airlifted to Jackson for emergency surgery but Kemp said Hales should pull through. Kemp said investigators found Hales' home ransacked. Kemp said the assailants entered Hales' home looking for something but apparently left empty handed. Kemp said his investigators were able to uncover two pounds of marijuana inside the home. Kemp said Hales is facing drug possession charges. Three or four suspects are still being sought in this case. The suspects fled the scene in a black Kia Sorento with Alabama plates. No license number was known. Kemp said the vehicle may have gone to Wayne County or into Alabama.