Update:Police officials believe the body found in a ditch off Morgan Valley Road in Rockmart on Tuesday morning was the victim of a shooting.

Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells said investigators have no idea who the young, black, male was but are treating the case as a homicide.

Detectives found a shell casing near the body and they are continuing to scout the area for other shell casings, Sorrells said.

There are no suspects at this time.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has been called in to assist in handling the crime, according to officials.

Sorrells said the victim was found in a ditch at the Second Street intersection with Morgan Valley Road. That section of road has been

roped off to traffic, and Sorrells stated the investigation will likely take most of the day.

Currently, traffic is being diverted onto Old Cedartown Road.

The victim’s body was locally handled by Polk County Coroner Trey Litesey but will be taken to the Georgia Crime Lab for a full autopsy, according to Sorrells.

Officials state the initial call came to the Polk County Police Department from 911. Area residents had called to report gunshots, according to Sorrells.

The 911 call was transferred to the city at 10:48 a.m. Both the city and county had responded out of mutual aid agreement.

Sorrells said there is still some question about which agency will actually take the lead in the case. He said the roads belong to the City of Rockmart in that area, but the private property is in the county.

The police chief said he believes the city will retain the case since the ditch where the body was found is part of the right-of-way.

Previously posted:Rockmart and Polk County Police are investigating an incident where a black male was found deceased in a ditch near Morgan Valley Road and Second Street in Rockmart.

According to Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells, the male did not have any form of identification on him. The scene has been secured and there is an active investigation going on, Sorrells said.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.