UPDATE: Suspect Identified in Warner Robins Motel Shooting

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –Authorities identified the suspect wanted in connection with Warner Robins’ second homicide of the week.

According to a news release, 32-year-old Kenneth Sharpe of Biloxi, Mississippi shot and killed 23-year-old Matthew Garner of Warner Robins. The release states Sharpe and Garner met at the Econo Lodge off Watson Boulevard. WRPD says Sharpe was at the motel possibly robbing Garner. Investigators say they got into “some type of argument” and gun shots were fired.

Garner was shot in the chest and died at the scene. Sharpe fled the scene and drove to Oxford, Alabama where he later died from his gunshot wound.

WRPD says a Georgia woman, Emily Hooker, was with Sharpe. She has been charged in Alabama with trafficking methamphetamine and possession of a pistol without a permit. WRPD is waiting to talk to Hooker to determine if charges will be filed.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Warner Robins Police are investigating its second homicide this week.

Matthew Garner, 23, was shot in the chest, Thursday, around 12:35 a.m., at the Econo Lodge Motel on Watson Boulevard in Byron.

Asst. Police Chief John Wagner said they have identified a suspect in the homicide. Wagner described their murder suspect, as a white male, and said he has left the area.

Warner Robins Police are working with other law enforcement agencies to apprehend him.

However, police did not release his name.

Garner of Warner Robins was staying at the motel in room 211.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to the GBI Crime Lab in Macon for an autopsy.

Wagner said the 911 caller was not at the motel when police arrive, and is now considered a “person of interest.”

The caller has not been charged in the case, according to Wagner.

“The 911 caller will be considered a witness to this,” said the police captain. “We’ve not charged anyone as far as that goes. To say that they are a person of interest, of course they are because they made the call. But, not to say that we are making any charges against them.”

Wagner said he is confident the killer will be caught soon.

Tony Nelson and a couple of his friends were staying at the Econo Lodge Motel, while working at the Georgia Fair. The men said they were changing hotels because of the murder.

Nelson described the early morning scene as a “beehive” of police activity. He said he was awakened by the blaring sirens.

“We saw a couple of people running around,” said Nelson. “Just as we stepped around the corner, there he was sitting at the end of the hallway. I wasn’t able to see him that close. You could clearly see somebody laying on their back. You could tell he was dead.”

 Half of the Warner Robins police crime unit are working on the Econo Lodge murder. While,  the other half are investigating a murder which occurred Tuesday.

A man died at Houston Medical Center after he was shot in the leg Demetree Drive.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Brett Rozier at 478-302-5389. Information can also be anonymously submitted through TipSubmit by texting the tip to CRIMES (274637) and include keyword WRPD in the body of the text. More information about TipSubmit can be found at WRPolice.org.