Crime

Authorities ID suspect in fatal shooting, Columbus’ third homicide in 6 days

A 70-year-old Columbus man died of multiple gunshot wounds Monday evening at his home, authorities said.

Police said officers were called at 4:47 p.m. to 4936 Mehaffey Street, where medics were unable to revive Walter Williams. Officers at 5:03 p.m. summoned Muscogee County Deputy Coroner Elizabeth Allison, who said she pronounced Williams dead there at 5:45 p.m.

Police said they have charged Marlon Jarrell Reese, 36, with murder in Williams’ homicide. Reese, who’s related to Williams, was arrested at the scene and booked into the Muscogee County Jail at 11:26 p.m. He is charged also with three counts of obstructing police, according to jail records.

Reese was to have a preliminary hearing in Columbus Recorder’s Court at 9 a.m. Wednesday, but it was postponed to Friday at 9 a.m., to give him time to hire an attorney.

Anyone with information on Williams’ homicide is asked to contact Cpl. Robert Nicholas at 706-225-4363 or robertnicholas@columbusga.org.

Mehaffey Street is between Buena Vista Road and Steam Mill Road, east of Interstate 185.

Williams’ fatal shooting marks the third in Columbus this year, and the third in six days. The first was on Jan. 6, and the second the next day.

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This story was originally published January 12, 2021 at 9:56 AM.

Tim Chitwood
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
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.
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