A Chelsea husband and father charged with murder in the shooting death of his friend and business partner was quickly developed as a suspect in the slaying, which authorities on Friday afternoon described as a "crime of passion."

Shelby County sheriff's officials arrested Adam Michael Burrus, 37, in the slaying of Connie Overstreet Woolweaver, a mother of two. Burrus has been charged with murder and is being held on $500,000 bond.

A motive hasn't been firmly established, but the two were longtime friends and business partners, and a dispute over money may have been a factor leading to the killing. Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego said he couldn't confirm that Woolweaver loaned Burrus a large sum of money, but said investigators are aware of that theory.

"There was hearsay of that and we're still exploring that,'' the sheriff said. "This investigation isn't over."

Woolweaver's body was discovered about 3:46 p.m. Wednesday inside her home on Sheffield Lane. She was found by her 13-year-old son when he arrived home from school. Samaniego on Friday said Woolweaver was found near the entrance to her home, in an inside stairwell that leads to the basement area.

Woolweaver was reportedly shot multiple times with a 9 mm handgun, including at least one gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead on the scene. Authorities have previous described the scene as "terrible."

Woolweaver just recently moved into her home, which is in a gated community. Motorists going through those gates must either live in the neighborhood or be visiting someone there. There is a sign-in sheet which is handled by a security guard, and investigators quickly surmised she was likely killed by someone she knew.

Samaniego said despite the security measures in the neighborhood, investigators developed Burrus as a suspect through other means. Anytime there is a crime of passion, the list of suspects is few as it was in this case.

Investigators developed Burrus as a person of interest about 9:30 a.m. Thursday and contacted Burrus at his Sterrett business. He voluntarily went to the sheriff's office for questioning, and it was then that Samaniego said they developed enough probable cause to obtain search warrants for his business, home and vehicle. It was in one of those locations that the handgun was recovered, he said.

Initially, the sheriff said, Burrus was cooperative but ultimately shut down the questioning. "When he saw the interview going in a certain direction, he invoked his rights and we respected that,'' Samaniego said.

Woolweaver's children are being cared for by family members, he said. DHR was brought to their home during the investigation Wednesday night to help formulate the best care plan for them.

"It's a tragic incident any one of the 365 days of the year, however during the holiday season we tend to take these things a little more serious,'' Samaniego said. "It's very tragic for the Woolweaver family but it's also tragic for the Burrus family as well. Our thoughts and prayers are with both families."

The sheriff said Woolweaver and Burrus had been friends and in business together for years.He said no one knew of any prior or ongoing disputes between the two.

While there is still much work to be done, he said, "We feel confident we have the person who committed this crime in custody,'' Samaniego said.

Court records don't show any felony criminal history for Burrus, but there were some financial issues and cases. He also was previously ordered to undergo anger management counseling in a municipal case several years ago in Trussville after making threatening remarks to a family member.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he is the owner of Green Solution Services, which is a landscape company, and also Bass Attacker LLC, a company he founded which sells plastic lures injected with a scent. Woolweaver was a partner in the lure business.

Efforts to reach Burrus' family for comment have not been successful.

Woolweaver graduated from Homewood High School in 1997 and then attended UAB where she studied early childhood education. According to her LinkedIn profile, she had "over 19 years experience in the real estate and banking industry, highly competitive, persuasive and ethical, able to achieve results others believed to be impossible."

She started her career at Wachovia where she worked for six years, before becoming a small business banker at Regions in 2007. The next year, she became assistant vice president at Renasant Bank. In 2011, she became controller and director of operations at Orange Development Inc. in Birmingham and left there in January 2015.

She was the mother to two children- her 13-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter. Her son's father died last year.

Woolweaver was known and loved by many. "Her entire community of friends is devastated and heartbroken,'' said Michelle Lagle, one of Woolweaver's friends. "She was radiant, beautiful, independent, determined and full of life."

Lagle said she and Woolweaver were introduced to each other through a mutual friend about five years ago. She described Woolweaver as an "amazing and loving" mother.

Another friend, Kelly Dorough, agreed. "Connie was a friend to everyone. She was fun-loving, kind and energetic about life,'' she said. "I have so many wonderful memories of Connie from high school- as I know so many people do. I was heartbroken to hear this news. Her family and friends loved Connie so much."

Friends have started a GoFundMe to help raise money for Woolweaver's children, which already has reached nearly $15,000.

"I want people to remember Connie as a smiling, loving, kind woman, daughter, and mother who was dedicated to her family, friends and children,'' said Lagle.

There will be a celebration of life event for Woolseaver at Aloft hotel in downtown Homewood on Dec. 22. It will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., and there will be a cash bar. Friends, family, and anyone else who would like to celebrate are welcome to attend, organizers say. The celebration is called "Remembering a Star: A life celebration for Connie."