A 39-year-old man was killed Monday evening in a shooting in the parking lot of a Gwinnett County tavern, police said.

Road rage was believed to be the motive behind the gunfire, which took Gwinnett police to Will Henry’s Tavern on Rockbridge Road at about 7 p.m., according to investigators. The victim, identified by police as Jerome Johnson of Lawrenceville, was shot at least once and died after being taken to a hospital.

Police sent out a K-9 and an aviation unit to search for the suspected shooter after a suspicious person call came in from a location not far from the crime scene.

Officers eventually apprehended 27-year-old Jonnathan Bladimir Hernandez. He faces charges of aggravated assault and felony murder.

Gwinnett County police are investigating a homicide Monday night at Will Henry's Tavern.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

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Credit: Channel 2 Action News

“The motive for this incident appears to stem from a road-rage incident that occurred in the parking lot of the tavern,” spokesperson Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle said in a statement.

The tavern is near several other businesses and a short drive from Mountain Park Park on Five Forks Trickum Road.

— Staff writer Chelsea Prince contributed to this article.

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