Demario Smith, 29 of Newton County, was fatally wounded during an alleged drug transaction Saturday.

According to Newton County Sheriff sgt. Cortney Morrison, NCSO responded to a person shot on Ridge Avenue around 8:30 p.m.

"The Newton County Sheriff's Office quickly identified Jerrod McKnight as a supsect and took him into custody without incident," Morrison said.

McKnight, 27 of Mountain Court in Covington, is being charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

During the investigation, NCSO deteremined there was an alleged drug transaction and evidence was collected.

The case remains under investigation and anyone wiht any information is asked to contact the Newton County Sheriff's Office at 678-625-1400 or by leaving at an anonymous tip at newtonsheriffga.org.