In the early morning hours of Thursday, September 21, 2023, the quiet of a Covington, Georgia neighborhood was shattered by gunfire. Responding to a call at approximately 2:58 a.m., Newton County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived at a residence on Kirkland Road to find a young man suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was identified as 23-year-old Tariq Jamil Dunston Jr.
Emergency medical services were dispatched to the scene, and Dunston was quickly transported to a local hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life. Tragically, despite the efforts of medical personnel, he was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The cause of death was determined to be the injuries he sustained in the shooting.
The Newton County Sheriff's Office immediately launched an investigation into the death of Tariq Dunston. Detectives began processing the scene on Kirkland Road, searching for evidence and speaking with potential witnesses to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. As of late September 2023, the investigation was described as active and ongoing.
Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects in the case, nor have they released any information regarding a possible motive for the shooting. The Newton County Sheriff's Office has appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward. No arrests have been announced in connection with the death of Tariq Jamil Dunston Jr., and the case remains an open and active homicide investigation.
