Columbus man fatally shot in car that crashed on Cusseta Road, coroner says

A Columbus man was found fatally shot Sunday after the car he was driving hit a telephone pole on Cusseta Road, authorities said.

Richard Watson was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:40 a.m., said Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan.

Watson had been shot in his vehicle, which hit a telephone pole on Cusseta Road at 27th Street, Bryan said. The impact caused the car’s air bags to deploy.

Watson was 60 years old, the coroner said.

Columbus police asked anyone with information on Watson’s death to contact Cpl. Sherman Hayes at 706-225-4268 or shayes@columbusga.org.

Watson’s death marks Columbus’ 15th homicide so far this year.

This story was originally published April 26, 2020 at 11:49 AM.

Tim Chitwood

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

706-571-8508

Tim Chitwood is from Seale, Alabama, and started as a police beat reporter with the Ledger-Enquirer in 1982. He since has covered Columbus’ serial killings and other homicides, following some from the scene of the crime to trial verdicts and ensuing appeals. He also has been a Ledger-Enquirer humor columnist since 1987. He’s a graduate of Auburn University, and started out working for the weekly Phenix Citizen in Phenix City, Ala.