Man shot to death at Double Churches Park

Authorities have identified a 24-year-old Jonesboro, Ga., man who was gunned down Wednesday near the basketball courts at Double Churches Park, Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said.

Demonde Donya Dicks Jr. was pronounced dead of a gunshot wound to the head at the scene at 3:45 p.m., Bryan said. His body will be transported to the crime lab in Decatur for an autopsy. The coroner said Dicks was from Columbus but had been living in Jonesboro for the last eight months.

Columbus police said they were called to the 2300 Double Churches Park around 3 p.m. to check on shots fired. When they arrived, they found the man lying on the ground and suffering from a gunshot wound near the basketball courts.

Police Lt. Consuelo Askew of the Robbery-Assault and Homicide Division said police were interviewing witnesses who were at the park at the time of the shooting. Police have no motive or a suspect connected to the shooting.

“We are interviewing several people, but we do not have any witnesses to this incident,” she said.

The shooting occurred directly behind the pool area. Police sealed off the entrance to the courts and staff at the pool closed the facility after the shooting.

James D. Worsley, director of Columbus Parks and Recreation, said the pool will return to normal hours from noon to 6 p.m. today. Access to the basketball courts are part of an ongoing police investigation and will be on lockdown until it’s cleared by authorities.

“It’s off the radar for use until they deem it necessary,” said Worsley, who was at the scene meeting with staff.

Worsley said he didn’t know any details about the shooting but his thoughts were with those impacted by it.

“My heart goes out to everybody involved,” he said.

At Double Churches Park, Askew said people heard what sounded like firecrackers before victim was found. She said detectives remained on the scene for hours searching for clues in the shooting.

After inspecting the body, the coroner said the bullet didn’t exit the victim’s head. The projectile was lodged in his right temple.

The shooting death is the 11th homicide in Columbus this year, Bryan said. It came less than a week after the June 9 shooting of Jamyah Allen at 6023 Crystal Drive. An autopsy showed the boy, 15, died of a gunshot to the chest. His death remains under investigation by police.

Askew said anyone who may have information on the shooting should call the Bureau of Investigative Services at 706-653-3400.

This story was originally published June 15, 2016 at 4:09 PM with the headline "Man shot to death at Double Churches Park."