A passerby was the first to spot a man’s body lying in the middle of a tree-lined dirt road in Dacula on Tuesday night.

At 10 p.m., it was dark and quiet along Stanley Road, tucked about a half-mile behind the busy Winder Highway that feeds Ga. 316. The victim had been shot at least once and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Gwinnett County police.

He was identified as 35-year-old Steven Thomaston of Lawrenceville.

Investigators think Thomaston was shot in the same remote area his body was found, but they are still looking into the circumstances surrounding his death. They combed the woods for evidence Tuesday night and found no vehicles at the scene, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Credit: WSBTV Videos

Gwinnett County police investigate homicide in Dacula

The case is being investigated as a homicide.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 770-513-5300. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.

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Six soldiers were honored, each receiving Meritorious Service Medals, Thursday for heroic actions responding to the shooting at Fort Stewart. “One of the things I can say unequivocally is that the fast action of these soldiers — under stress and under trauma and under fire — absolutely saved lives from being lost,” U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told reporters as the six soldiers stood near him Thursday. “They are everything that is good about this nation.” (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

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