A midday shooting in Etowah County left two people dead, and a third person in custody.

Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday on a report of a shooting in Coats Bend Circle in a rural part of the county.

Once on the scene, deputies found a man and a woman, both of whom had sustained gunshot wounds.

One victim was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham and later pronounced dead. The other was dead on the scene.

Based on information gathered from the 911 call and evidence at the scene, deputies identified a potential suspect.

That suspect, whose name has not been released, was taken into custody with help from Ashville, Steele and Rainbow City police.

The victims’ names are being withheld pending notification of their families.

Sheriff’s officials said the investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is being released at this time.