Markale Hart
AUBURN, Alabama -- Police arrested a man connected to the shooting death of Auburn tight end Jakell Mitchell Sunday afternoon.
Markale Hart, 22, of Camp Hill was arrested and charged with murder following an investigation by Auburn police. Hart was located in Dadeville, a 25-minute drive outside of Auburn, with the assistance of the Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Department and Jackson Gap police.
No additional arrests are anticipated, according to Auburn police. Hart was transported to the Lee County Jail in Opelika and his bond is set at $150,000.
Auburn detectives traveled to Dadeville after developing leads on a suspect stemming from the shooting early Sunday morning at an off-campus apartment complex.
Police responded to a call from the Tiger Lodge apartment complex at 12:25 a.m., where they made contact with a vehicle leaving the area. Mitchell, 18, was in the passenger seat and was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to East Alabama Medical Center by ambulance and was pronounced dead in the emergency room, according to the Lee County Coroner's Office.
The Auburn Police Department and Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences conducted an on-scene investigation through the morning and cleared the scene shortly after 9 a.m.
The shooting occurred at the same apartment complex where two former Auburn players died in a shooting in June of 2012. A jury determined Desmonte Leonard killed three people, including former Auburn players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips, at the party during a trial in October. He was convicted of capital murder, attempted murder and assault and will be sentenced Jan. 20.
Mitchell redshirted this season for the Auburn Tigers out of nearby Opelika High. The local star was ranked the 17th-best tight end in the country by 247sports.com.
Mitchell sat out the 2014 season at Auburn to gain weight and get ready for 2015. He was expected to contend for a starting spot next season at H-Back and tight end following the departures of seniors Brandon Fulse and C.J. Uzomah.
Mitchell turned heads in fall camp and had the biggest play in the final scrimmage of preseason drills when he caught a deep pass for a 70-yard gain.
Mitchell missed his senior season at Opelika High as he recovered from an ACL injury. He rushed for 392 yards and 17 touchdowns and added 403 receiving yards as a junior in 2012.
Anyone with further information on Mitchell's death are urged to contact the Auburn Detective Section at 334.501.3140. Anonymous tips can be shared with the Auburn Police Division Tip Line at 334.246.1391.
AL.com will update this story.