Second suspect charged in Bernard Drive homicide

A second man has been charged with the murder in the Friday night shooting on Bernard Drive, Columbus Police said in a press release.

Roderick Lebeson Phillips, 22, joins Roger Lee Thomas, 28, as a suspect in the shooting death of 32-year-old Demetrius Williams. He is currently in Muscogee County Jail, according to officials. 

Columbus Police said they were called to the intersection of Bernard Drive and Mellon Street around 11:17 p.m. Friday in reference to the shooting.

Authorities found Williams of Phenix City on the scene with multiple gunshot wounds in his side and chest. He was transported to Columbus Midtown Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead 12:05 a.m. Saturday, Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said.

Police had obtained a murder warrant for Thomas' arrest by Saturday night, and he surrendered to authorities 11 p.m. Sunday at the Columbus Public Safety Center on 10th Street.

According to Williams' family, Williams and Thomas are half-brothers.

Further investigation into the incident revealed that Phillips, who didn't give a street address, was also involved in the homicide.

When authorities arrived to the scene of the shooting, he was allegedly fleeing from a Bernard Drive residence with a gunshot wound to the leg. He attempted to run past three responding officers, but they tackled him to the ground, Cpl. Darrell Middlebrooks said.

A 28-year-old man who resides in the 400 block Bernard Drive told police that Phillips pistol-whipped him in his home around 11:10 p.m. that night. Officials said they arrested Phillips shortly after midnight Saturday in connection to the reported attack.

Officials said Phillips was heavily intoxicated and "appeared to be on something else" when he gave them various accounts of how he was shot in the leg.

Phillips pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Recorder's Court to one count each of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and theft by receiving stolen property. He was awarded bonds totaling $45,000 and the case was bound over to Superior Court. 

At that time, police were investigating Phillips as a possible suspect in the homicide said to have happened in the 400 block of Bernard Drive. Detectives said he admitted to being at the address where Williams was gunned down.

Phillps was served the murder warrant today and denied bond on that charge, authorities said.

Phillps is scheduled to appear in Recorder's Court on the murder charge 8 a.m. Saturday. Thomas' preliminary hearing was continued until 9 a.m. Wednesday in Recorder's Court.

Authorities would like anyone with information about this case to contact Middlebrooks at 706-225-4329 or the Robbery /Assault-Homicide office at 706-653-3400.

— Sarah is a crime and safety reporter at The Ledger-Enquirer. You can contact her on Twitter at @SarahR_92.

This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 1:26 PM with the headline "Second suspect charged in Bernard Drive homicide ."