Homicide suspect lured victim from Alabama to Columbus to rob him, police say

A 20-year-old woman lured an Alabama man to Columbus with promises of romance before he was fatally shot, a Columbus police detective testified in Recorder’s Court Thursday.

Terreona Horton, 20, waived her first appearance in court. She is charged with murder, armed robbery and a seat belt violation in the June 22 death of Travis Henry.

Just before 7:30 a.m., units from the Columbus Police Department were dispatched to 17th Avenue and Nina Street, according to court testimony. Upon arrival, they found Travis Henry with a gunshot wound to the chest. He later died.

Detective Sherman Hayes testified that Henry, who is from Montgomery, Alabama, was invited to Columbus by Horton the night before the shooting under the pretenses of an intimate encounter. Henry and Horton had exchanged messages via Facebook Messenger for months, Hayes said.

The two did end up meeting, according to cell phone records obtained by the police.

They initially met at the Whisperwood Apartments off Flat Rock Road in Columbus. Cell phone records also put the pair in the area of 17th Avenue and Nina Street, where Henry would later be found dead, Hayes said.

Hayes said Horton was a witness to the shooting, but was not the one who pulled the trigger. The case is still under investigation and that there are other individuals with outstanding warrants in the case. Hayes would not provide details on their identities.

Police found Henry’s BMW in Russell County, Alabama, near the home of one of Horton’s relatives. Police were able to track down Horton a few days later and interview her.

Horton told police she invited Henry to the area because of social media posts that indicated he possibly had a large sum or money or was wealthy. Horton said the intent was to rob him, Hayes testified.

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Outside of the courtroom, members of Henry’s family said they wanted him to be remembered for his loving personality and not what took him from this earth.

“My nephew was very humble,” Silvia Rice, Henry’s aunt, said. “He did not deserve this by any means.”

Rice added that they are proud of the work police are doing in the case, and that she and her family could not wait for justice to be served. Candy Ball, Henry’s aunt, agreed with her statements.

The family has lost two other family members in the past weeks, one to COVID-19. But Ball said that they would continue to put their trust in God during the healing process.

“We have to stay prayed up and love on one another. God got all of us,” she said.

Judge Julius Hunter bound Horton’s case over to Superior Court with no bond.