Police seek Columbus murder suspect in fatal Phenix City shooting

Local authorities are on the hunt for a Columbus suspect in the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man Thursday at the Frederick Douglass Apartments in Phenix City, Alabama.

Phenix City police said Praather Raemel Hiley of Columbus is wanted in the death of Derante Person, who died from multiple gunshot wounds after being taken to Piedmont Columbus Regional.

Officers found Person wounded when they were called at 3:58 p.m. to 1500 11th Ave., and got a murder warrant for Hiley’s arrest after identifying the suspect, investigators said.

Police in a news release said Hiley, 23, is considered “armed and dangerous,” and anyone in contact with him should call 911 right away.

Anyone with more information on the shooting is asked to contact Lt. Rob Isabel at 334-448-2825 or Investigator Deon San Nicolas at 334-448-2839.

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.