The Gardendale Police Department is expected to file murder warrants Thursday on a suspect in custody.

The body of a white male victim was discovered Wednesday at an undetermined location in Walker County. Police Chief Mike Walker confirmed that the victim was killed at an address on Robin Avenue in Gardendale at about 7 a.m. Thursday morning. The victim’s body was then moved to Walker County.

Walker said he would not reveal specific details about the case, but said a “firearm was used in the murder.”

The identity of the victim is being withheld, pending positive identification from the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.

The murder investigation, which was formally launched Sunday, began as a missing persons case on Friday. Walker said the family of 17-year-old Chase Woods had not been able to contact him.

“The department started hearing rumors there had been a possible homicide Thursday morning,” he said. “We heard so many different rumors we were unable to determine if there was any validity to them.”

He said based on information received over the weekend, the department formally launched the murder investigation. The department received aid from other cities in finding persons of interest in the case.

The suspect, described as a 20-year-old white male, was picked up in Brighton and brought to Gardendale for questioning. Walker said the department was able to locate the victim’s body based on information provided by the suspect.

Walker said solving the case would not have been possible without the hard work of Gardendale investigators and officers. He said the department also received assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.

Gardendale is expected to present the case to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office early Thursday. The suspect’s name will be released upon being formally charged.