HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Huntsville Police Department has identified the body that was found on the Whitesburg Bridge on Friday.
According to HPD, on Friday, May 30, at around 9:30 a.m., HPD officers responded to a report of a possible dead man on the north side of the Whitesburg Bridge along Highway 231/431.
Authorities said preliminary findings showed that the man had died from a gunshot wound, and evidence suggests the suspect was attempting to dispose of the body in the Tennessee River.
HPD identified the man who was killed as 39-year-old David Merrit of Arab. Due to the location of the incident, HPD’s Major Crimes Unit has been working in collaboration with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office throughout the investigation.
Investigators identified 55-year-old Daniel Ray Shelton as the suspect. HPD said evidence suggests an altercation happened when Shelton shot Merrit.
Shelton was found by the Cullman Police Department in Cullman County earlier on Sunday.
Shelton was taken to HPD’s Criminal Investigation Division, where he was interviewed by detectives with the Major Crimes Unit.
After the interview, authorities said Shelton was placed under arrest and booked into the Madison County Jail on a charge of murder and abuse of a corpse.
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