PHILIPPI – Police have captured the suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred in Philippi Friday, officials said.

Michael Mussi, 26, was taken into custody Saturday morning in the Beech Lick area of WV Route 57, according to the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department. Officials were notified at about 8 a.m. that a suspicious person was in the area who fit the description of the suspect, the release states.

Deputy Cole Whited of the Barbour Sheriff’s Department “had a brief standoff with the subject, however Deputy Whited was able to de-escalate the situation and take Michael Mussi into custoday without further incident,” according to the release.

“Members from the investigating agency Philippi Police Department, West Virginia State Police, and other deputies from Barbour County Sheriff’s Department arrived moments later to assist,” the release states.

“We would like to thank the citizens of Barbour County for your information and tips that led to this arrest, and working together to make our county safe.”

Police had been searching for the suspect since Friday afternoon, after a fatal shooting near the Philippi Covered Bridge.

The shooting happened at about 5 p.m. Friday afternoon, according to the Philippi Police Department.

The victim was identified as Tanner Talbott of Belington.

Police were looking for a dark blue or dark gray Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. Law enforcement officials were searching in Barbour, Randolph, Upshur and Tucker counties. The West Virginia State Police and multiple county sheriff departments and town police departments aided in the search.