Newton County authorities are investigating the possibility of a connection between a shooting on Monday and a body discovered this morning in Newton County.

Sheriff Ken Copeland said authorities believe the two incidents are linked, and may be tied to a local group called the Joplin Honkies.

A man whose body was discovered early today in the driveway of a northern Newton County residence had a Joplin Honkie tattoo, Copeland said.

“We identified him by the tattoos and through his jail records,” said the sheriff.

The name of the victim has not been released pending the notification of family members. 

An autopsy was underway today in Springfield. Copeland said there were no visible signs of the cause of death on the body or at the scene, a driveway in the 13000 block of Route V. 

“It could have been a drug overdose. It looks like he was dumped there,” Copeland said.

The sheriff said medical examiners might be able to determine a cause of death quickly, but any conclusion will take longer if it relies on toxicology results.

On Monday, Newton County authorities reported that Thomas “Tommy” Webb, 44, of Joplin, was suffering from two bullet wounds when he pulled into a driveway in the 3500 block of Cherry Road and began honking his horn.

In both incidents, Copeland said, “We think we’re are looking at Honkies or people who are involved with them.”

Copeland said Webb has not cooperated in the investigation of the shooting, giving officers at least three versions of events. As a result, he said he is uncertain whether any charges will be filed in the shooting. Webb currently is under guard at Freeman Health System and will be discharged soon.

When he is released, Webb will be returned to the Newton County jail on a parole violation.

Webb was convicted of three felony drug counts in Jasper County and was sentenced to seven years in prison in February 2012, according to court records. After receiving long-term drug treatment in prison, he was released on parole Jan. 18.