Dispute over $2,000 possibly led to Columbus man’s death, police say

A dispute over $2,000 could be to blame for a Columbus man’s death, according to police testimony in Recorder’s Court on Thursday.

Trey Campbell, 27, is charged with one count of murder in a Feb. 9 incident that put him in the hospital and left one individual dead.

Around 8 p.m. Feb. 9, officers from the Columbus Police Department were dispatched to the 2400 block of Rice Street in reference to a person being shot. Upon arrival, they found both Shovawn Baker, 34, and Campbell suffering from gunshot wounds.

They were transported to Piedmont Columbus Regional, where Baker later died of his injuries. Campbell survived a gunshot to his side, which was only a few inches from his spine, according to Stacey Jackson, his defense attorney.

Witnesses reportedly told police that tensions between the two men started to rise in the fall. Campbell owed Baker $2,000 for construction work and was allegedly jumped for it, police said.

On the day of the shooting, Campbell allegedly sent text messages to a few witnesses looking for Baker, according to police. One message that was allegedly sent was about retaliation, but Jackson refuted this saying that Campbell never said the name of who he was trying to retaliate against.

The messages were sent only four hours before the shooting took place, which was inside of the kitchen area at the Rice Street residence. The two pulled guns out at each other and shot one another following an argument, police said.

Police said they recovered two different types of shell casings — a 9-millimeter and .45 caliber — from the scene but did not find any firearms.

Jackson said that he hopes that Campbell’s case will be heard in due time, but understands that the department has been busy with the recent rash of other homicides and shooting in the area.

“I understand that the police department has to be cautious on cases like this, but that does not dispute the fact that I believe that my client is innocent,” Jackson said.

Judge Julius Hunter bound the case over to Muscogee Superior Court and did not set a bond due to the nature of the charges.