UPDATE:

APPLING, Ga. (WJBF) —- A standoff in Columbia County has come to an end with the suspect in an Augusta shooting turning himself in. Investigators identified the suspect in that shooting as Jason Cunningham. Cunningham, also known as “Moose,” is well-known in Augusta.

Columbia County deputies and Fort Gordon Military police tracked Cunningham down at the Pointes West Army Resort off Washington Road in Appling. The standoff lasted eight hours.

Cunningham was taken from Pointes West to the Columbia County Jail. He’ll be held there until he can be picked up by Richmond County to face charges in the death of Nicole Diane Harrington.

The Richmond County Coroner says Harrington was shot at least once. They found her body on the third floor in the Convention Center parking deck.

“We searched and located him minutes later here at the recreation area,” said Major Steve Morris. “We secured the area and started negotiations. Almost eight hours later, he surrendered.”

Cunningham served as deputy for Richmond County for about 14 years. He’s also the former marketing manager for ForcesUnited: an organization that helps veterans. A friend of Cunningham’s came to help police diffuse the situation.

“I came out here to see if I can offer to try to help the situation,” explained Jeff Pagac. “Whether it be trying to talk to him, and to let him that he is loved and cared about it. Maybe that makes a difference.”

Pagac says he has known Cunningham for about 14 years. They meet through a local football club.

“Having that relationship with him is something I will always cherish,” said Pagac. “That was my buddy, that was my boy, Moose. That’s what I always tell people; I’ll still tell people that.”

Pagac told NewsChannel 6 reporter, Devin Johnson, Cunningham is a loving father and is well known in the community. He says it’s unfortunate what happened.

“I want to tell him that I love him,” said Pagac. “I want him to know that he is loved and cared about by so many people in the community.”

What led up to the shooting of Harrington is unknown. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.

UPDATE: A standoff in Columbia County has come to an end with the suspect in an Augusta shooting turning himself in.

Jason “Moose” Cunningham is in custody after negotiating with law enforcement since right before 12 Thursday afternoon.

It is believed he is the sole suspect in the shooting of Nicole Diane Harrington of Florida.

Her body was found Thursday morning on the 3rd floor of the Convention Center parking deck off Reynolds Street in Downtown Augusta.

According to Sgt. McCarty with Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Cunningham will be held temporally for Richmond County in the Columbia County Jail; a warrant has been filed for Cunningham for the charge of murder in the death of Nicole Diane Harrington.

Count on NewsChannel 6 for more details as they become available.

UPDATE: The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is in an armed standoff at Pointes West Army Resort with the man believed to be the suspect in an early morning murder in Augusta.

Jason “Moose” Cunningham, a former deputy with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has been confirmed as the man law enforcement is looking for.

According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the body of a woman who had been shot was found at the Convention Center Parking Deck on Reynolds Street early this morning.

The victim has been identified as 37-year-old Nicole Diane Harrington of Hallandale Beach, Florida.

The situation surrounding what lead up to the shooting is unknown at this time and according to Major Steve Morris with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office the negotiations with Cunningham are currently “going well”.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office tells us that Cunningham was a “14-year veteran” of the RCSO, serving from 2004 until 2018. They also tell us they are not discussing the reasons for Cunningham’s departure from the Sheriff’s Office, at this time.

Count on NewsChannel 6 for more details as they become available.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Richmond County Investigators are searching for a suspect in what is now being treated as a homicide.

Richmond County Deputies responded to the scene of a dead body found on the third floor of the parking deck at 9th Street and Reynolds Street Thursday morning, just before 6 a.m. Upon arrival, they found the body of a woman with at least one gunshot wound. The Richmond County Coroner was then called to the scene.

Investigators are treating the person’s death as a homicide.

Officials tell us they’re now searching for a suspect in connection with the case.

The victim’s identitity has not been released.

Count on NewsChannel 6 for more details as they become available.

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