Police: Murder suspect had friend in Gainesville

COLUMBIA, Miss. - A Mississippi murder suspect arrested in Gainesville early Monday was wanted for a fatal shooting on U.S. Highway 98 in Marion County, Miss.

John David Smith of Columbia, Miss., is charged in the death of 55-year-old Joe Von Stringer, who was gunned down on Sunday.

Marion County investigations and agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation were searching for Smith after they learned that the victim had allegedly been in contact with Smith, who had a friend in Gainesville.

Lt. Nina Harkins of the Gainesville Police Department said Smith was arrested shortly after midnight, not long after a lookout had been posted for him and the truck he was believed to have been driving.

"...an officer of the Gainesville Police Department observed a red Dodge Ram truck traveling west on Dawsonville Highway that matched the description of a lookout given earlier," Harkins said.

"The truck was believed to be occupied by a murder suspect wanted in Mississippi. The truck pulled into the Kangaroo at Sardis Road and stopped. The officer was able to confirm it was the lookout vehicle. With the help of the Hall County Sheriffâ