Authorities identify 3 men killed in shootings overnight in Columbus, including 2 brothers
Three men were killed overnight Wednesday in Columbus shootings, including two brothers shot dead at the downtown Motel 6, Columbus authorities said.
Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan identified the brothers as Eric Giddens, 21, and Quindarrius Giddens, 22, both of Columbus. The younger brother was pronounced dead of multiple gunshot wounds at 7:20 p.m., and the older one was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound at 7:23 p.m., both in a motel room, Bryan said.
Columbus police said they were called at 6:14 p.m. to the 1325 Veterans Parkway motel.
Investigators said Thursday that they have charged 25-year-old Jacob Martel with two counts of murder in that case. He’s to have a preliminary hearing in Columbus Recorder’s Court at 9 a.m. Friday.
Separate shooting
Hours later, a 50-year-old man fatally was shot in the Andrews Road area, Bryan said. He identified the victim as Paul Lokey, pronounced dead shortly after 2 a.m. at the Piedmont Columbus Regional emergency room.
Columbus police said officers were called at 1:32 a.m. to a car crash at South Andrews Circle and 21st Avenue, and found the driver had a gunshot wound. An ambulance rushed him to the hospital.
A 41-year-old passenger in the car was injured, police said.
The three fatal shootings bring the total number of Columbus homicides so far this year to 22.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This story was originally published March 24, 2021 at 8:09 PM.