Police make arrests in most recent shootings

Two of Columbus’ recent homicides were drug-related, another resulted from a personal feud, and only in the fourth did the suspect and victim not know each other, Police Chief Ricky Boren said Wednesday.

Police have made arrests in the two most recent of four fatal shootings reported in five days. Boren said officers at 3 a.m. Wednesday raided the home of Ricardo Strozier, 21, an alleged burglar now facing a murder charge in the slaying of David Heath Jackson, 25. Jackson was shot in the back about 1:10 p.m. Tuesday when he came home and found an intruder inside his 1667 Carter Ave. home.

Boren said that in Strozier’s apartment at 213 16th St., investigators found what they suspect to be property from several burglaries in the area around Jackson’s home at the corner of Carter Avenue and 17th Street, just a few blocks east of Lakebottom Park.

“We have seized a lot of merchandise and we’re in the process now of determining who owns that property,” Boren said.

Strozier faces charges of murder, burglary and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, according to his arrest report.

Also on Wednesday, investigators charged Marquise Dantwon Roberts, 21, in connection with the slaying of 18-year-old Gerald Hatchett, who was shot in the head about 10:30 p.m. Monday on the street in front of 1521 25th St. in the East Highland area, Boren said. The chief said Roberts may have been driving the car in which the man who shot Hatchett was riding. Boren said police have identified the shooter and were searching for him Wednesday. Boren declined to name the suspect, but said that if not located within a few days, the name and description will be announced.

Roberts was arrested early Wednesday at the Columbus Public Safety Center and charged with murder and simple battery.

Friday homicides

About 10 a.m. Tuesday, police arrested Andrew Solomon Jr., 19, in the slaying of Levy Lamont Daniel.

Daniel, 17, was found shot in the back and lying in the middle of Veterans Parkway near Booker T. Washington Apartments about 10:45 p.m. Friday. Solomon was arrested near the homicide scene.

Boren said Daniel and Solomon had an ongoing “domestic” dispute, and had a confrontation earlier in the evening, when Daniel had pulled a gun on Solomon.

“It was an ongoing, domestic-type situation,” the chief said. “We believe they were probably fighting over a girl.”

Solomon is charged with murder, police said.

As of Wednesday, police had yet to make an arrest in the fatal shooting of Brian Alexander Brown, 33, who was shot in the head about 10:25 a.m. Friday in the Johnston Mill Lofts, 3201 First Ave.

Boren said investigators believe Brown’s homicide was drug-related, but they were unsure whether the shooter meant to hit Brown, who was peeking through a door’s peephole when his assailant fired from the other side.

Boren indicated investigators have strong leads in that case as well, but he would not identify any suspects.

“There could be more arrests,” he said. “Johnston Mills, we expect several arrests with that one.”

Criminal history

Muscogee County court records show Solomon and Strozier have no criminal history.

Roberts pleaded guilty in February to criminal trespass/damage to property and was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, ordered to stay away from the victim and forfeit his right to have a firearm. In April 2009, he pleaded guilty to having a pistol without a license and was sentenced to six months’ probation, records state.

The three homicide suspects are scheduled for Columbus Recorder’s Court at 9 a.m. Friday.

Anyone with information about the slayings can contact police at 706-653-3400.

Staff writer Alan Riquelmy contributed to this story.