Double-homicide at Columbus block party was recorded on cellphone video, police say
Cellphone video posted to social media showed a murder suspect gun down two men at an all-day Fort Benning Road block party that hundreds attended, a detective testified Friday in Columbus Recorder’s Court.
The video records Elijah Smith with five or six friends from Columbus’ Winston Road area walking among the party guests April 10 in the 1200 block of Fort Benning Road, then shows the victims as Smith’s arm extends into the screen firing a pistol at them, Sgt. Thomas Hill testified.
Hill said Smith denied shooting Marque Humber and Nakevius Petty around 6:30 that evening, but admitted he was at the party, and confirmed he’s on the video wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and distinctive, multicolored sneakers.
Hill gave no motive for the shooting, but investigators have said they believe it to be gang-related.
Each of the 19-year-old victims died later at Piedmont Columbus Regional, Humber at 6:48 pm. and Petty at 7:21 p.m., investigators said.
Hill said Friday that those organizing the party had a city permit for the gathering, which drew 250 to 300 guests and went on for hours before the gunfire began, prompting witnesses to flee before homicide detectives arrived.
But multiple tips from those with information on the shooting began pouring in around 8 p.m. that day and continued, including references to the cellphone video police collected, the officer said. About half a dozen of those witnesses gave police their names, and 10-to-12 more provided tips anonymously, he said.
No one contacting police named a suspect other than Smith as the gunman, he said, and police got a warrant for Smith’s arrest the next day.
Smith, 20, was captured at his mother’s home in Phenix City on April 20, Hill said.
He said police found 10 9-millimeter shell casings at the crime scene, and seized a 9-millimeter handgun while searching the home where Smith was arrested. Ballistics tests have yet to show whether the casings came from that gun, he said.
Paramedics treating Humber found that he also had a 9-millimeter pistol on him, and what Hill described as an “AR-15 style” pistol was found in a vehicle Humber had driven to the party, the detective said.
Judge Julius Hunter found probable cause to send the case to Muscogee Superior Court. Charged with two counts of murder and one of using a gun to commit a felony, Smith will be held without bond.
Anyone with more information on the shooting may contact Hill at 706-225-4345 or thill@columbusga.org.