‘He’s still a kid.’ Columbus teen suspects planned to rob homicide victim, cops say

Two teen suspects in the New Year’s Day homicide of a 26-year-old man had their first hearing in Recorder’s Court Friday.

Dequarius Richardson, 17, also known as “Big Man,” has been charged with homicide in the fatal shooting of Javante Jackson, 26, which occurred at the Elizabeth Canty Homes off Cusseta Road.

A 16-year-old, who has not been identified by police but is being tried as an adult, has also been charged with homicide. Reporters were not allowed to photograph or video record the juvenile in the courtroom Friday.

Police responded to reports of a shooting at 1:15 a.m. Jan. 1. Upon arrival, officers found Jackson’s body 30 yards from the 204 building of the complex.

Jackson had one gunshot wound to his abdomen and was pronounced dead at 2:09 a.m. by Deputy Coroner Elizabeth Allison, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan.

Detectives say that Jackson was living at the residence with his girlfriend and two other individuals. Jackson’s girlfriend reportedly told police that he walked out of the apartment that evening and about a minute later, she heard a gunshot outside.

Police also said she reported that Richardson was at the apartment earlier that day and invited Jackson to join him in a music studio to hangout, rap and also make a marijuana transaction.

Detectives said the incident was a planned robbery between Richardson, the juvenile and Jackson over seven grams of marijuana.

Witnesses around the apartment reported seeing a tall, skinny black male with long dreads carrying a shotgun before and after the incident, police said.

Detectives say this individual fired said shotgun and fled the scene after getting into a small, white sedan being driven by a shorter individual inside of the vehicle. After more investigating, police were led to the residence of Richardson’s father where they found the sedan, identified as a Nissan Sentra.

Richardson and two other subjects later exited the apartment and were arrested by police without incident.

Ralston Jarrett, Richardson’s defense attorney, said that he couldn’t speak much on the details due to the case being a murder investigation, but did say that it would be a long road ahead.

“We want to make sure that the Columbus Police Department is doing their job and we want to put the right people in jail,” Jarrett said.

Judge Julius Hunter did not issue bond at the hearing due to the murder charges. Richardson and the juvenile were each additionally charged with armed robbery.

“(Richardson) is shaken up. He’s facing serious charges but we got to remember that he’s 17. He’s still a kid,” Jarrett said. “He may look like a grown man but he’s still a kid.”