VALDOSTA — Valdosta police arrested a man suspected of shooting a 17-year-old Valdosta High School student just 12 hours after the incident occurred.

Cornell Jahne Venus, 24, of Valdosta, was arrested at approximately 9:15 p.m. Tuesday night without incident by Valdosta police and a Georgia State patrol officer while the suspect was on duty at Cheddar’s Restaurant, reports stated.

 The arrest came after detectives spent Tuesday talking to witnesses and following up on information given by citizens about the incident.

Detectives are still investigating the motive and the possibility the victim was mistaken as someone else.  

According to the report, the suspect previously served time in the Georgia Department of Corrections for robbery and was currently on parole at the time of his arrest.  

At approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday, a crowd gathered in the 2800 block of Tyndall Drive after the victim was shot multiple times in the 2700 block of Sheridan, reports stated. The suspect allegedly walked up to the victim while he was tending to a vehicle along with another individual, made a demand and then fired the weapon multiple times, striking the victim.

Emergency-medical services arrived at the scene and transported the victim to South Georgia Medical Center.                 Valdsota-Lowndes crime scene technicians also responded to investigate. Valdosta Police Capt. Bobbi McGraw said the injuries to the victim do not appear to be life-threatening. She said, as a precautionary measure, Valdosta High School was notified and locked down in order to protect the students. It was also confirmed through a school official that Dewar Elementary School also experienced a temporary lock-down of its campus.

Venus was charged with aggravated assault and, reports state, he could receive additional charges.

Currently, he is being held at the Lowndes County Jail pending judicial proceedings.  

If anyone has additional information regarding this incident, please contact the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigations at (229-) 293-3145 or  remain anonymous by calling the Crime Tip Line at (229) 293-3091.