Victim in home invasion was shot with own gun at Cooper Cove Apartments

A 22-year-old man was shot with his own gun Wednesday after four people entered his home at Cooper Cove Apartments looking for drugs, police said during a Columbus Recorder’s Court hearing Friday.

Jessica Elliott, 22, Ashley Wright, 24, and Phillip Futrell Jr., 28, pleaded not guilty to one count each of home invasion first degree and aggravated assault in connection with the 3:40 a.m. shooting inside the 4770 Milgen Road apartment. Judge Mary Buckner ordered the suspects held without bond in the Muscogee County Jail and bound the charges over for proceedings in Superior Court.

Police detective Joby Duncan said police have identified a fourth suspect, 23-year-old Dwayne Searcy, but his location is unknown, as is that of a pistol taken from the apartment.

Duncan said the victim was in surgery Thursday, and he may have suffered some brain damage in the assault. He was in unsatisfactory condition at Midtown Medical Center, Columbus Regional spokeswoman Jessica Word said.

In a statement to police, Elliott said she contacted the victim through Facebook and told him that she was coming over to the apartment. She was familiar with the victim but hadn’t seen him for some time. She also knew that he kept some drugs and guns at the apartment, Duncan told the court.

After a conversation with Futrell and Searcy, Elliott and Wright were to knock on the door, enter the apartment and distract the victim long enough for them to unlock the door and allow the two men to enter, the detective reported. The women reportedly were out on the balcony with the victim when the two men entered the apartment.

With his gun left on the coffee table, the victim ran toward the gun, Duncan said. As the two men entered, the suspect with Futrell reportedly grabbed the gun and fired shots. Futrell allegedly told police that he only had a stick with him inside the apartment.

Elliott remained at the scene until police arrived, but the other suspects fled, Duncan said.

Anyone with information on the location of Searcy should call Duncan at 706-225-4263, the Fugitive Unit or the Robbery/Assault unit at 706-653-3400.

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 1:37 PM with the headline "Victim in home invasion was shot with own gun at Cooper Cove Apartments."