A Cuba, Alabama man has been charged with murder in the shooting death Friday of a Lauderdale County resident.

Sumter County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Sgt. Thomas Lewis said he charged Thursday Willie Ruffin Jr., 28, in connection with the incident that led to the death of Tony Hernandez Jr., 33.

“We believe at this time the two men were involved in a verbal altercation that led to the shooting,” said Lewis Thursday afternoon. “We have the alleged murder weapon, a pistol.”

The dispute that led to the shooting occurred late Friday night at The Center, a convenience store located on County Road 10 and Wilson Road near Cuba. Hernandez, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the lower abdomen, was transported to the Alabama, Mississippi state line in Lauderdale County by four people in a personal vehicle to meet a Metro Ambulance crew. Hernandez was then taken to a local Meridian hospital where he died Saturday.

A Sumter County District Court judge placed Ruffin’s bond at $20,000 Thursday. Ruffin has since posted bond and is now free.