2nd arrest made in Double Churches murder

Columbus police made a second arrest Monday afternoon in connection with June 15’s homicide at Double Churches Park.

Akeveius Powell was arrested and charged with the murder of Demonde Donya Dicks Jr., a 24-year-old man from Jonesboro, Ga. Officials are still searching for 25-year-old Derain Waller, who is wanted on related warrant.

Powell is represented by Columbus defense attorney Susan Henderson. She said she met with Powell Monday morning and arranged his surrender to the Columbus Police fugitive squad.

“He turned himself in at my office,” she said.

Powell’s arrest comes hours after 19-year-old Jacquawn Clark pleaded not guilty to the homicide this morning in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Derain Waller, 25, continues to have an outstanding warrant for murder.

Authorities said they were called to the 2300 Double Churches Road park around 3 p.m. Wednesday to check on shots fired. When they arrived, they found Dicks near the basketball courts, dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

The shooting occurred behind the park’s swimming pool, and its motive may have been robbery, Maj. Gil Slouchick said Friday afternoon.

Police Sgt. Wendy Holland said Clark returned to the scene about an hour after the shooting with his mother and gave a statement to detectives. He told them that he drove Dicks and his cousin to the park to smoke marijuana when Dicks was killed, Holland testified.

Police declined to give the name of the alleged shooter but confirmed that they also issued warrants for Waller and Powell in connection with the homicide.

Holland said video evidence revealed that Clark wasn’t being completely upfront about his involvement in the incident but declined to comment further.

Dicks’ death came two days before he was scheduled to appear in Muscogee County Superior Court on drug charges.

This story was originally published June 20, 2016 at 4:39 PM with the headline "2nd arrest made in Double Churches murder."