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Georgia Southern student shot, killed; friend faces charges
Police: Alcohol played significant factor in incident
David Coleton
Coleton Weatherford

             A Georgia Southern student was shot and killed early Wednesday morning and a friend faces involuntary manslaughter - felony charges in connection with his death, according to Chief Deputy Jared Akins with the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office.
        Bulloch patrol deputies responded to reports of a shooting at 2:20 Wednesday morning to a residence on Planters Lane in Statesboro, where they found 20-year-old Blake Shurling of Tennille, Ga., deceased at the residence.
        After processing the scene and conducting multiple interviews, Coleton Weatherford, 20, of Planters Lane was taken into custody and charged with involuntary manslaughter - felony, reckless conduct and discharging a firearm while under the influence.
        In a release, Akins said, Shurling and Weatherford were "well-acquainted" with each other and both were students at Georgia Southern.
        Akins said alcohol is believed to have played a significant factor in the incident.
        Weatherford remains at the Bulloch County Jail pending further judicial hearings.
       Anyone with further information on this case should contact Cpt. Todd Hutchens at (912) 764-1787 or submit an anonymous tip to tips@bullochsheriff.com

More details will be posted on statesboroherald.com as they become available. Look for the complete in Thursday's edition of the Statesboro Herald.

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