COVINGTON, Ga. — The suspect in the death of Newton County school board member Almond Turner has been captured.

Covington police public information officer Justin Stott said the department learned Christopher O. Denson, a nephew of Turner, was arrested at his apartment in Meridian, Mississippi, Sunday afternoon, Nov. 24.

Police in Mississippi confirmed the death of Turner in a shooting. Capt. John Griffith of Meridian police confirmed the 69-year-old Covington resident died Saturday night, according to the Meridian Star.

Turner was with family at the 1st and 10 Lounge at about 8:30 p.m. CST when a relative reportedly left the facility, then returned with an AK-47 and opened fire, fatally striking Turner.

The suspect was identified as the 41-year-old Denson. Griffith told the newspaper Denson left the party and a family member retrieved the gun.

WTOK in Meridian said Denson is a nephew of Turner.

The Star said investigators have not identified a motive in the shooting, and it was not clear if Turner was the target.

Tuner was in his sixth term as a member of the Newton County Board of Education, serving as chairman in 2018. He spent 45 years with the Covington Police Department, retiring in 2016 after 19 years as assistant chief.