One suspect pleads, one freed in Columbus Lakebottom-area shooting that crippled victim
After allegations of attempted jury tampering, one of three defendants pleaded guilty Tuesday in an afternoon shooting that crippled a man near Columbus’ Lakebottom Park.
A second suspect’s charges were dropped.
Authorities have said the then-21-year-old victim, who was left severely brain damaged, was not the intended target of the drive-by shooting reported about 5:30 p.m. June 11, 2019, outside 1246 18th Ave., about a block south of the midtown park.
The alleged shooter was Courvoisia Brenica Wilson, now 25, who police said was in the back seat of a red, four-door sedan behind the driver and front-seat passenger when she exchanged words with a woman who once dated her boyfriend. When the car turned around and circled back, Wilson “unloaded” at the woman, who was near three or four other people, investigators said.
Wilson missed the woman she had aimed for, and instead hit the man who was standing nearby, the bullet striking him in the forehead and leaving him hospitalized in critical condition, police said.
Detectives later charged two more suspects police said were in the car with Wilson, Kayne Dequandre Wiggins, 24, and Christopher Jermaine Morgan, 22. Each was indicted on four counts of aggravated assault and four of using a gun to commit a felony.
With visiting Judge Mary Staley presiding, they were set to go to trial this week in Muscogee Superior Court. Attorneys picked a jury Monday and were prepared to make opening statements Tuesday morning.
Then the trial hit a snag, as prosecutors alleged that Wiggins had tried to get an associate to contact one of the jurors, hoping to bribe him. When Staley called the juror into court for questioning, he denied anyone had tried to influence him.
After that, Wiggins decided to accept a negotiated plea that would preclude prosecutors’ pursuing charges related to jury tampering, said his defense attorney, Susan Henderson. He pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated assault, with his other charges to be dropped.
Staley sentenced him to 20 years in prison, with 15 years to serve and the rest on probation.
After that, Assistant District Attorney Anthony Pickett told Staley prosecutors had elected to drop charges against Morgan, removing him from the case. District Attorney Stacey Jackson said Morgan’s charges could be revived should more incriminating evidence later come to light.
Morgan, who was represented by public defenders Marie Pardue and Bentley Adams IV, left the courtroom.
The family reacts
Before Wiggins was sentenced, the victim’s family testified to how the shooting had affected them, telling Staley their loved one was left paralyzed on his right side and required around-the-clock care, as he could not walk, bathe or express himself. Also he can never have children, they said.
“The fact that the bullet was never meant for my brother makes the crime even more vicious,” said his sister.
Reading a statement on behalf of his mother, a victim’s advocate said, “Life has not been fair to him since this incident.”
Some relatives in the courtroom began to cry or quickly left, during this testimony. Others in court also were brought to tears.
Wiggins’ plea and sentence left Staley to decide how to handle Wilson’s case. Before Wiggins agreed to plead, Pickett and prosecutor Sadhana Dailey had asked Staley to declare a mistrial; to postpone the case until a new jury could hear it; or to proceed with the trial while dismissing the juror Wiggins allegedly had tried to influence.
With her two codefendants out of the case, Wilson told defense attorneys she still wanted to go to trial, and Staley brought the jury in so the trial could proceed.
This story was originally published December 13, 2022 at 3:47 PM.