VALDOSTA – A 38-year-old male suspect has been charged in a weekend shooting that claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy, according to authorities.

Lowndes County Sheriff Office deputies were dispatched to South Georgia Medical Center on Friday, Dec. 22, at about 4:50 p.m. due to an individual with a gunshot wound.

“The victim, identified as a thirteen-year-old male (13) was transported to the hospital by private vehicle. After lifesaving efforts were made, the victim was pronounced deceased,” a release shared Wednesday morning said.

The release said the investigation found that 38-year old Lavonte Seward Jr., a Lowndes County resident, shot the victim after a domestic disturbance occurred within a residence.

The offender is in custody at the Lowndes County Jail on a charge of murder and is expected to receive additional charges.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to contact the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at 229-671-2900.