VALDOSTA — Authorities are investigating an early Monday shooting that left one person dead, according to police.

E-911 received a call at 12:44 a.m. about a shooting at the Blanton Common apartment complex in the 1500 block of Lankford Drive, according to a statement from the Valdosta Police Department. Police officers and Lowndes County sheriff’s deputies responded and found the victim, later identified as Stephen Styles, 40, in the parking lot, the statement said.

He was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the statement.

Detectives and crime scene technicians with the Valdosta/Lowndes Regional Crime Laboratory were called to the scene, police said.

There are no suspects in custody, said Lt. Adam Bembry of the police department.

He said the shooting appears to be an isolated incident with an unclear motive.

In a press conference, Bembry said it was not known if Styles was from Valdosta or if he was a Valdosta State University student. Blanton Common advertises itself as a student apartment location.

“If anyone has any information or details pertaining to this case, they are asked to please call the Valdosta Police Department at (229) 242-2606,” Bembry said.

 

Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times.