Huntsville police say one person is in custody in connection with the shooting death of a man whose body was found on the Whitesburg Bridge Friday.

Sgt. Chris Jackson with Huntsville police said authorities have identified the victim as David Merrit, 39, of Arab.

Merrit’s body was found at about 9:30 a.m. Friday on the northside of the Whitesburg Bridge along U.S. 231/431.

Madison County Coroner Tyler Berryhill on Friday afternoon said the body was discovered on the side of the roadway in a blanket near the guard rail.

Preliminary findings revealed that Merritt died from a gunshot wound.

Investigators identified Daniel Ray Shelton, 55, as the suspect in the shooting.

Jackson said evidence suggests an altercation occurred during which Shelton shot Merrit, and investigators believe Shelton was attempting to dispose of the body in the Tennessee River.

Shelton was located by Cullman police in Cullman County earlier today, Jackson said.

He was transported to HPD’s Criminal Investigation Division, where he was interviewed by detectives with the Major Crimes Unit. Following the interview, Shelton was placed under arrest and booked into the Madison County Jail on a charge of murder and abuse of a corpse.

Huntsville’s Major Crimes Unit worked in collaboration with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office throughout the investigation due to the location of the body.