MOULTRIE, Ga. — An initial investigation of a fatal shooting early Saturday morning at a Moultrie night club indicates that the death may have occurred in an act of self-defense.

The Colquitt County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Dewayne Williams Jr. Deputy Coroner Jeremy Dickens told The Observer on Sunday that he  pronounced Williams, 28, dead at about 1:30 a.m. after he was struck by multiple bullets during an altercation in the parking lot of the 50 Yard Line Club at 300 Second St. N.E.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is heading up the investigation, Dickens said.

Jamy Steinberg, special agent in charge of the GBI office in Thomasville, said on Monday that no one was in custody in connection with the shooting, which occurred at about 12:50 a.m. Saturday.

Williams was armed, the agency said in a news release, and had threatened the life of the other man involved, who was not identified.

“Witnesses stated that the shooter was able to obtain a weapon and shots were fired wherein the individual that started the confrontation was shot multiple times and died at the scene,” according to the GBI release.

An autopsy was scheduled for Monday, Dickens said.

The autopsy should provide investigators with more information and help verify witnesses’ accounts, the GBI said.

“This investigation is active and agents are consulting with prosecutors concerning any criminal charges as the investigation progresses,” the news release said.