A murder suspect is in custody, accused of shooting a man outside a Conyers apartment.

Ernest Travis Jr., 42, of Covington, was arrested in the death of Dewayne Carl Patterson, the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday.

Patterson, 42, of Conyers, was found June 3 covered in blood and lying outside an apartment at a complex on Brandon Glen Way, the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities were sent to a building in the complex after a 911 caller reported hearing “rapid gunfire and a female yelling,” according to an incident report. When deputies arrived, a woman was screaming that her boyfriend had been shot and was dead, the report said.

The victim, later identified as Patterson, was not moving and had no pulse, the report said.

The woman told deputies she was inside the apartment when the shooting happened and did not see where the gunman went, the incident report said. Her children were sleeping at the time, she told investigators.

Deputies removed the children from the unit, the report said. They were not hurt.

Investigators found five shell casings near the man’s body, as well as multiple bullet holes, the incident report said. Officials later identified Travis as a suspect.

Deputies believe Travis shot Patterson in a dispute over a woman they were both acquainted with, the sheriff’s office confirmed.

Travis was arrested June 10 during a traffic stop, officials said. In addition to murder, he is charged with making false statements, expired tag and probation violation, Rockdale officials confirmed.

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June 21, 2020

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