Murder suspect sustained gunshot wound in 4th Quarter Sports Bar shooting

 Using a wheelchair and suffering from a gunshot wound, the man accused in the fatal shooting at the 4th Quarter Sports Bar pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in Columbus Recorder’s Court today.

 Demark Ponder, 47, of LaGrange, also pleaded innocent to one count each of aggravated assault, armed robbery and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime. He was ordered held without bond in the Muscogee County Jail on the serious charges and Judge Mary Buckner bound all the cases over to Muscogee Superior Court.

Ponder is charged in the Oct. 9 death of Dominic Mitchell, 33, of Columbus. Mitchell was taken to Midtown Medical Center where he was pronounced dead of two gunshot wounds just before midnight.

Police Detective David Stokes said officers were called at 11:20 p.m. to check on the shooting of several people at the 6959 Macon Road bar. About the same time officers arrived on the scene, Ponder and another injured person appeared in the emergency room at St. Francis Hospital.

Ponder, who drove a motorcycle to the hospital, sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg and the third person was shot in the stomach. The detective didn’t identify that person in court but reports filed on Thursday, six days after the shooting, identified the victim as a 49-year-old Columbus man.

 During the investigation, Stokes said police found a receipt on a gun purchase from Ponder. A gun matching the one on the receipt was seized at the scene. To identify the suspect in the shooting, Stokes said a photo lineup was conducted with witnesses at the bar and Ponder was identified as the shooter.

 Police seized all of Ponder’s clothing and his motorcycle. Ponder’s attorney Shevon Thomas questioned whether police had a warrant to take control of the items at the time.

 Stokes said police didn’t have one at the time but obtained the warrant later.

Police also talked to the other victim in the shooting but didn’t release details in court because the investigation is ongoing. The detective also didn’t release details from witnesses because there are more suspects.

 Along with the seized gun, Stokes said police found shell casings from different guns. “There were multiple weapons fired at the scene,” Stokes said.

 When the attorney asked if the victim had a gun, Stokes said,” to my knowledge, he did not.”

 Police confirmed that Ponder didn’t shoot himself but didn’t state how he sustained the gunshot. “There is an ongoing investigation in his shooting,” the detective told the court.

 Police also were unable to state how Ponder was charged with armed robbery. Stokes said the intended target in the shooting had some property taken during the shooting.

 Ponder didn’t testify during the hearing.

 Outside the courtroom, Thomas indicated that he probably will seek a bond for his client. Thomas also said that Ponder is not part of any motorcycle group.

 “If you know anything about guys who ride motorcycles they just get on their motorcycles and ride anytime of the day,” said Thomas, a former motorcycle rider himself. “They take a buddy and they just ride. It’s not unusual for someone with a motorcycle to ride from here to Atlanta or wherever. It’s not unusual for someone from LaGrange to hang out in Columbus.”

 Some motorcycle riders who knew the suspect and family members of Mitchell were at the court hearing. They declined to comment on the case. A woman screamed, “It’s not fair” as she left the courtroom.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 3:50 PM with the headline "Murder suspect sustained gunshot wound in 4th Quarter Sports Bar shooting ."