In the early morning hours of Thursday, September 21, 2023, gunfire rang out at a residence on Kirkland Road in a Covington, Georgia neighborhood. Deputies from the Newton County Sheriff’s Office arrived after a 2:58 a.m. call and found 23-year-old Tariq Jamil Dunston Jr. with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital but was pronounced dead; the cause of death was the injuries sustained in the shooting.

Detectives processed the scene, interviewed potential witnesses and described the investigation as active and ongoing as of late September 2023. Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or released a possible motive, and no arrests have been announced. The Newton County Sheriff’s Office has asked anyone with information to come forward.

If anyone knew Tariq, witnessed activity on Kirkland Road that night, or has information that could help, please share what is known with investigators.