Shots heard day before two found dead at Columbus hotel, police say

A day before a man and woman were found dead Friday evening at the Efficiency Lodge of Columbus shots were heard in the area, authorities said.

Officials are reaching out to the community for any additional information about what led to the death of 23-year-old Damian Antwonne Belle and 21-year-old Kelsey Marshall.

Columbus police were called to the Efficiency Lodge at 1776 Boxwood Place around 6:30 p.m. Friday to check on two people with injuries. They found Belle and Marshall dead in a hotel room authorities said they were living in together.

Lt. Greg Touchberry said several people heard shots in that area on Thursday, but they didn’t report it to authorities.

Muscogee County Deputy Coroner Charles Newton said the manager of the business went to the room on the ground floor to collect rent at the hotel when the bodies were found.

Detectives have yet to name any suspects in the case. No additional details are available at this time.

Marshall’s death was a shock to friends on social media. Some were in disbelief while others remembered her as a sweet and loving person. She was a graduate of Carver High School and had attended Columbus Technical College, according to Facebook.

Records show Belle had encounters with law enforcement in the past. In March 2014, he was charged with first-degree child cruelty and murder in connection with the death of 23-month-old girl. The child died at Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta after she was airlifted with a head injury from Columbus.

Anyone with information about the activities Belle and Marshall’s were involved in on Thursday and Friday is encouraged to call the Cpl. Katina Williams at 706-225-4434 or Katinawilliams@columbusga.org

Staff writer Ben Wright contributed to this report.

This story was originally published December 11, 2017 at 12:09 PM with the headline "Shots heard day before two found dead at Columbus hotel, police say."