Gang member charged with murder, armed robbery in shooting death of Alabama man

A 19-year-old Columbus man appeared in Recorder’s Court Thursday morning on charges of murder and armed robbery in connection with the shooting death of a Montgomery man last month.

Lydell Sparks, who is a member of the Gangster Disciples according to the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Department, was charged with murder and armed robbery in the June 22 shooting death of 22-year-old Travis Henry at the corner of 17th Avenue and Nina Street.

Columbus police found Henry with a gunshot wound to the chest just before 7:30 a.m. He later died of his injuries at a local hospital.

Two other people — Kalaya Sumter, 17, and Terreona Horton, 20 — already appeared in Recorder’s Court on charges connected to Henry’s death.

Investigators believe Sparks shot Henry, according to Detective Sherman Hayes, who testified that Sparks was part of a conspiracy to rob Henry while he was in Columbus. The detective testified Sparks shot Henry in the chest inside of Henry’s BMW.

According to Hayes, Sparks pulled Henry out of the car and drove to Russell County, Alabama to get rid of it. Sparks was located in Coweta County during a traffic stop on July 21 by multiple area law enforcement agencies. Police chased Sparks, Hayes testified, and he was later apprehended without further incident.

Judge Julius Hunter bound Sparks’ case over to Superior Court with no bond. Hunter also added a no contact order for Sumter and Horton, as well as for the family of Henry.

This story was originally published July 23, 2020 at 3:20 PM.