GULF SHORES — Former Mobile City Council Member turned Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine turned himself in to Baldwin County deputies late Sunday night for questioning regarding the shooting to death of 45-year-old Angel Downs.

Shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday, residents at The Ridge condominiums on Fort Morgan Road in Gulf Shores reported hearing a gunshot, then found Downs nearly dead in front of her home.

Some neighbors reported seeing a county vehicle leaving the scene, according to Gulf Shores Police.

As of Monday, officials could not determine if Downs’ death was a homicide or suicide.

Downs, who was from Georgia, was employed by Benchmark Homes, working as a sales manager in Foley, Robertsdale and Loxley, according to the Benchmark office in Mobile.

Nodine, who was elected to the Mobile City Council in 2001, then to the County Commission in 2004, turned himself in to Baldwin County authorities. He was not arrested and was released following several hours of questioning.

A conservative voice on the Commission, Nodine has been a supporter of capital improvement projects, lobbying for and directing funding for over $300 million in new road projects in Mobile County.

In December, Nodine was under investigation when marijuana was found in his county-issued vehicle. He has not yet been charged in the case.

No details have been released regarding the nature of Downs’ death, other than that she died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators have determined that it was a small caliber handgun and have confirmed that it was not the weapon issued to Nodine by the county.

Nodine was not present at Monday morning’s county commission meeting.