MUNCIE, Ind. -- Delaware County reserve sheriff's deputy Roger Reno hoped a tip he received about Sunday's interstate highway shootings wasn't relevant, because it involved a family with whom he was close. But he said he doesn't regret checking the information, which led to the arrest of one of the family's members.

"If one of my sons did this, I would report it," Reno told reporters Wednesday with Sheriff George Sheridan at his side.

Zachariah Blanton, 17, of Gaston was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of shooting at two vehicles on Interstate 65 near Seymour early Sunday -- killing a New Albany man and leaving an Iowa man with minor injuries -- and two vehicles on I-69, near Muncie in east-central Indiana, about two hours later.

Police said someone who knew Blanton, concerned that he could have been involved in the shootings, contacted Reno on Monday, telling him of a rifle that Blanton had.

"(The tipster's) attitude was, 'I don’t think it was him, but this is the information I have. Find out for me if you can,' " Reno said.

Reno said he then called Sheridan, the sheriff, to ask him if investigators believed the shooter used the kind of rifle that was mentioned in the tip.

Sheridan said the information matched.

"I told Roger, 'You have my utmost attention. Where are you at? Don't move. I'll be right there,' " Sheridan said.

Investigators pursued the lead Monday night and searched Blanton's house, where they found a rifle that they believed -- based on ammunition fragments found in the attacked vehicles -- was used in the shootings, police said.

Police said Blanton, who was about to start his senior year at Wes-Del High School, cooperated with investigators and was remorseful. By Tuesday, he was arrested on charges of murder, attempted murder and criminal recklessness and jailed in Jackson County, where the I-65 shootings happened.

Jackson County prosecutor Stephen Pierson said Wednesday the motive for the shootings wasn't clear. However, Pierson said Blanton was on a hunting trip with relatives and friends in Jackson County on Saturday when he was involved in an argument over gutting a deer.

Blanton left the area and went to I-65 to begin the shooting spree, Pierson said.

Sheridan said the tip was "an extremely important part of the case."

"If this information wouldn't have come to us as quickly and as fast as it (did), we would still be investigating," Sheridan said.

Reno, who said he is a close friend of Blanton's family, said he hadn't spoken to the family since the teen's arrest. He said he wants to speak with the family and plans to call in a few days.