Family shoved drunk murder suspects out of home before shooting, police say
A family shoved the three suspects in the deadly Jan. 24 shooting out of their Wickham Drive home moments before the incident, according to testimony Tuesday in Columbus Recorder's Court.
Carl James McClendon, 35, pleaded not guilty to murder in the shooting that killed 24-year-old Lashay Ford and injured two others. He was ordered held without bond in the Muscogee County Jail.
Judge Julius Hunter bound the case over to Superior Court.
McClendon's plea comes about two weeks after 36-year-old co-defendant Dewayne Jones was taken into custody in El Paso, Texas.
Columbus police were called to Wickham Drive house around 10:52 p.m. Jan. 24 to investigate a shooting that left three injured. All of the victims were rushed to Midtown Medical Center, where Ford was pronounced dead at 11:31 p.m.
Columbus Police Cpl. Robert Nicolas said a family of five were in their Wickham Drive home when three men arrived there drunk.
Witnesses identified McClendon, also known as CJ, and Jones as two of the individuals who visited the home. Jones is Ford's cousin and McClendon's best friend, according to police.
Nicholas said one of the residents told the men to leave and a fight started between that resident and Jones. Moments later, everyone in the home allegedly started shoving the suspects outside of the home.
Nicolas said the three suspects were outside of the home and the residents were shutting the door behind them when shots were fired through the home and door.
Authorities said a bullet that came through the door struck a pregnant resident in her leg and bullet that came through the sheet rock near the door bell struck Ford in her chest. Another resident was shot, but officials have yet to clarify where the bullet struck him.
All three suspects left in a silver car, maybe a Maxima or Lexus.
Officials located one .380 shell casing on the front porch of the home and three .40 caliber shell casings near the mailbox. Another shell casing was found in the home, but authorities have yet to identify its caliber.
It has been sent to a crime lab for testing.
Nicolas said Jones called authorities from Mexico and told him that he was afraid and wanted to return home. Detectives instructed Jones to a US border patrol agent to turn himself.
"We have received a statement from Mr. Jones," Nicholas said. "Mr. Jones provides a statement that puts a gun in Mr. McClendon hands."
He was taken into custody Feb. 2 in Texas. Officials are still trying to extradite Jones to Columbus.
McClendon turned himself into authorities the following day.
Sarah Robinson: 706-571-8622, @sarahR_92
This story was originally published February 13, 2018 at 1:15 PM with the headline "Family shoved drunk murder suspects out of home before shooting, police say."