Authorities ID victim, suspect in east Columbus fatal shooting

Authorities have identified the man gunned down Wednesday afternoon in east Columbus, and the suspect charged with killing him.

John Allen Bishop was pronounced dead by a doctor at Piedmont Columbus Regional at 1:39 p.m., said Muscogee County Deputy Coroner Charles Newton.

Dante Williams is charged with murder in Bishop’s death, said Columbus police. He was to have a hearing Thursday in Columbus Recorder’s Court, but it was postponed to May 5 to give him time to hire an attorney.

Newton said Bishop, 50, was shot multiple times. Police said officers were called around 1 p.m. to 6200 Olde Towne Drive and found him wounded on the ground beside his car.

Bishop’s family had reported him missing on Tuesday, Newton said. The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office reported locating Bishop later that day.

Anyone with information on the shooting may contact Detective Robert Nicholas at 706-225-4363 or robertnicholas@columbusga.org.

Bishop’s death marks Columbus’ 15th homicide so far this year.

This story was originally published April 27, 2022 at 7:35 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.