Perry County authorities are investigating the county’s first murder in over a year.

Tony Hogan, 40, of Marion was arrested Monday night after he turned himself in to the Perry County Sheriff’s Department, several hours after allegedly killing 24-year-old Wardell Turner of Marion.

Hogan has been charged with capital murder and given no bond, according to District Attorney Michael Jackson.

“It was a senseless killing that could have been avoided,” Jackson said.

According to authorities, Turner had just finished mowing the lawn at a residence belonging to his wife on Highway 14, west of Marion, at 5:30 p.m. when Hogan shot Turner multiple times in the back.

Perry County Sheriff Billy Jones said Hogan fled the scene in Turner’s maroon Chevrolet Lumina. The vehicle was later recovered in Hale County.

Witnesses reported hearing approximately four gunshots, but how many times the victim has been shot has not been determined, according to Jones.

The gun has not been recovered, but authorities speculate the weapon used was anywhere between a 22 caliber and a 25 caliber firearm.

“It’s just been an ongoing altercation between the two men that’s been going on for several months,” Jones said. “It has been the first murder in Perry County during my term.”

Jones has been in office as sheriff for a year and five months.

Hogan is expected to appear in district court later in the week for arraignment, according to Jackson.

Hogan was originally charged with murder. Jackson said the charges have been increased to capital murder because the suspect stole the victim’s vehicle after the murder.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to call the Perry County Sheriff’s Department at (334) 683-6534.