Boy, 14, charged in Columbus homicide was among 5 suspects in car break-in scheme, police say
A 14-year-old arrested for murder in a man’s fatal June 5 shooting outside a Columbus nightclub is charged as “a party to the crime” because of his alleged involvement in car break-ins that led to the homicide, a detective said Monday.
“I can tell you he was not the shooter in this case,” Detective Matt Sitler told Judge Julius Hunter during the teen’s preliminary hearing in Columbus Recorder’s Court, where the boy’s name was not disclosed.
His identity has been withheld because his case later could be severed from any adult co-defendants’ and sent to Muscogee Juvenile Court, where suspects’ names typically are not publicized, to protect their future prospects. Juvenile records are not public.
As a “party to the crime” of murder, the 14-year-old is accused of being involved with others who committed a felony offense that led to the victim’s death.
Defense attorney William Kendrick said his client has been charged as an adult, so far, but that could change.
“Those decisions have not been made, I think finalized...and we’ve got a long way to go, in that regard, so his case could be dealt with in another court — it could be Juvenile Court,” Kendrick said after Monday’s hearing. “There are a lot of things that could happen at this point, at this early stage.”
Sitler testified the boy was among five people who in different vehicles traveled to the Foxy Lady Lounge, 3023 Victory Drive, to break into cars in the parking lot.
That’s where one of the car owners, Samuel London, caught 18-year-old Cecil Brian Berguin breaking into his vehicle, and was shot as he tried to get Berguin out of the automobile, investigators said.
Police were called to the club about 2:15 a.m., Sitler said. London died at Piedmont Columbus Regional at 3:03 a.m.
Sitler said Berguin and the 14-year-old were among five people who went to the lounge to steal from cars. Besides murder, both suspects were also charged with entering an auto.
Police have not identified the gunman who mortally wounded London, and Sitler said detectives are searching for other suspects.
Sitler said evidence found in cars spotted at the nightclub and surveillance video from the parking lot helped police identify suspects.
Accompanied by an attorney, the 14-year-old surrendered to officers Friday after learning they had warrants for his arrest. Berguin was captured Wednesday in Phenix City and extradited to Columbus, where his preliminary hearing was held Thursday.