2 teens, 16 and 17, charged in Fatal shooting of Columbus man on New Year’s Day
Two teens have been charged in Wednesday’s fatal shooting that marked Columbus first homicide of 2020.
Police identified the 17-year-old as Dequarius Devonte Richardson, who has been charged with murder and using a gun to commit a crime in the death of Javante Jackson, 26, who was found shot to death at Elizabeth Canty Homes off Cusseta Road.
Detectives have yet to disclose the 16-year-old’s name, but say they intend to charge him as an adult and expect him to appear with Richardson for a preliminary hearing in Columbus Recorder’s Court at 9 a.m. Friday.
The juvenile currently is being held in a youth detention facility, said police Maj. J.D. Hawk.
Both suspects were arrested Wednesday afternoon, Hawk said. Officers found Richardson at a relative’s home in the 2600 block of Cusseta Road, Hawk said.
Authorities were called to the public housing complex about 1:15 a.m. Wednesday and found Jackson dead.
Deputy Coroner Elizabeth Allison pronounced him dead from a gunshot wound at 2:09 a.m., said Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan.
Anyone with more information about the homicide is asked to contact police Cpl. Sherman Hayes at 706-225-4268 or shayes@columbusga.org.
Columbus ended 2019 with 41 homicides, two fewer than a recent peak of 43 in 2017. It had 34 homicides in 2018, according to the coroner’s count.