Marietta Police said the suspect was identified and arrested late Wednesday night. The victim was killed on his 40th birthday.

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A suspect was identified and taken into custody late Wednesday night in the shooting death of a man at a Cobb County apartment complex near a busy intersection.

Marietta Police said 33-year-old Donovan Carter of Gwinnett County was facing charges including malice murder and aggravated assault in the killing of Kenneth Cunningham II, which occurred at The Harlow apartments near the intersection of Cobb Parkway and Windy Hill Road.

Carter made his first court appearance on Thursday night, where he was officially charged with murder, malice murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He will have his bond hearing on Jan. 24.

RELATED: Person shot, killed at apartment complex near busy Cobb County intersection identified

According to Marietta police, Carter shot Cunningham multiple times Wednesday morning, targeting Cunningham because Cunningham was seeing a woman who was Carter's ex-girlfriend.

Cunningham's father and aunt told 11Alive Thursday night they are grieving in disbelief.

"We can't comprehend it," said his aunt, Daphne Bell. 

Bell, and Cunningham's father, Kenneth Cunningham, said "Little Kenny" was killed on his 40th birthday. Family and friends from Chicago had flown to Atlanta to surprise him at a party scheduled for that night.

"He was very generous," said Kenny's father. "Giving. Loved kids. Loved his nephew."

His nephew, Dallas, is 18 months old.

Bell said Kenny was working as an Uber driver. She said he loved to entertain and make people laugh, with stories and jokes and impersonations of family members, friends and famous people.

“Once you met Kenneth you were going to walk away with a funny story," Bell said. "Because he was just that guy. He was always making you laugh, anybody that knows Kenny has a funny story about Kenny.”

"He's a very talented individual," Kenny's father said, fighting back tears, and calling his son's homicide "nonsense."

"I don’t believe this is happening," he said. "I don’t know, it’s just like a nightmare or something. I mean, I don’t believe it. I don’t.”

The shooting brought a large police presence to the highly-trafficked area on Wednesday afternoon as they searched for the suspect. Carter was taken into custody in Gwinnett County, police said.

Cunningham lived at the apartment complex. 

Marietta Police said in a statement Thursday: 

Our Detectives and Officers worked swiftly yesterday reviewing videos, collecting evidence, and gathering witness statements.  Once the identity was confirmed, inter-agency coordination with the officers in Gwinnett enabled Carter to be taken into custody just hours after the shooting occurred. The smooth cooperation and coordination between multiple agencies enabled us to take this violent criminal off the streets quickly.  Special thanks to all who assisted MPD, including the Cobb County 911 Center, Cobb County Police Department, Smyrna Police Department, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gwinnett County Police Department.

News happens fast. Download our 11Alive News app for all the latest breaking updates, and sign up for our Speed Feed newsletter to get a rundown of the latest headlines across north Georgia.