CLYO, Ga. (AP) — An Effingham County man has been arrested after authorities say he beat his house guest to death with a shovel.

Sheriff’s deputies responding to an assault call around 8 a.m. Wednesday found 63-year-old Arthur Scruggs inside the Clyo home suffering from blunt force injuries to his head. He pronounced dead at a hospital.

Deputies questioned 51-year-old Darrell Lovett and charged him with murder. Lovett was being held in the Effingham County jail, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.

Scruggs was visiting from out of town. Authorities say Lovett used a shovel to hit Scruggs in the head multiple times during an argument.

The investigation into the killing is ongoing. An autopsy was planned for Thursday.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)