1 man killed, 4 hurt in Oakland Park shooting. It’s Columbus’ 5th homicide in 11 days

Columbus recorded its fifth fatal shooting in 10 days Thursday night when one man was killed and others were wounded in a shooting in the Oakland Park area.

Police were called at 5:42 p.m. to 2001 S. Lumpkin Road, the Signature Event Center, where five people were hit in a barrage of gunfire, authorities said.

Deputy Coroner Charles Newton said he pronounced Derico Pritchard, 37, dead from multiple gunshot wounds there at 7:20 p.m. Four others were taken to the hospital, police said.

Anyone with information in the case was asked to contact Cpl. Matt Sitler at 706-225-4367 or msitler@columbusga.org.

Columbus has had a spate of homicides this year, recording six in January to total 11 so far this year.

This story was originally published February 11, 2021 at 9:13 PM.

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.