Here’s a list of Columbus homicides for 2023, according to authorities
Columbus over the past five years has averaged around 47 homicides annually, with the most recent peak in 2021, when the city had 70. It had 45 in 2022, and 46 reported in 2020, according to the Muscogee County coroner.
The city recorded 41 homicides in 2019; 34 in 2018; and 44 in 2017.
Here is a list of Columbus homicides for the year 2023:
1) Jan. 4: DeAndre Meadows, 23.
Officers called at 6:25 p.m. to the 900 block of Lawyers Lane found Meadows in a driveway with multiple gunshot wounds, Columbus police said. He was pronounced dead at 7:07 p.m., according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. Anyone with information on Meadows’ shooting was asked to contact Cpl. Roy Green at 706-225-4261 or RoyGreen@columbusga.org.
2) Jan. 7: Giancarlos Rivera-Lopez, 17.
Police called at 10:26 p.m. to a reported shooting at Spring Creek Village Apartments, 8082 Veterans Parkway, found Rivera-Lopez on the ground with a gunshot wound, authorities said. After medics were unable to resuscitate Rivera, Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan pronounced him dead at 11:15 p.m. Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to contact Cpl. Sherman Hayes at 706-225-4268 or shayes@columbusga.org, or call the police homicide unit at 706-225-3161.
3) Jan. 15: Kameron Duane Holcey, 23.
Police called at 3:19 a.m. to a shooting in the 2900 block of Third Avenue found Holcey shot in a vacant lot between Third and Second Avenue. An ambulance took him to Piedmont Columbus Regional, where he was pronounced dead at 3:59 a.m. Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to contact Cpl. Robert Nicholas at 706-225-4337 or robertnicholas@columbusga.org, or the police homicide unit at 706-225-3161.
4) Feb. 1: Jerry Faulkner, 66.
Authorities said Faulkner died from cardiac arrest, allegedly during or after an altercation with a daughter, 37, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter. After paramedics who took Faulkner to the hospital told police he had injuries to his face and neck, officers went to investigate at the Wellborn Drive home where the ambulance picked Faulkner up. They later charged daughter Marisa Faulkner also with misdemeanor battery. A deputy coroner said Faulkner’s death resulted from a “physical altercation aggravating ischemic cardiac disease.”
5) Feb. 15: Da’Marcus Faison, 16.
Faison was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound at 6:27 p.m. at the Piedmont Columbus Regional emergency room, said Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. Police said the shooting happened in the 400 block of Mt. Pleasant Drive, off Steam Mill Road on the city’s east side.
6) Feb. 17: Wiley “Lee” Jackson, 63.
Police said they found Jackson lying on the ground with gunshot wounds when officers were called at 3:50 a.m. to Ewart Avenue and Forsyth Street. Medics were unable to save him, and Jackson was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:45 a.m., according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. Anyone with information on Jackson’s death was asked to contact Detective Roy Green at 706-225-4261 or the homicide unit at 706-225-3161.
7) Feb. 17: De’Anthony Miles, 24.
Officers called to a shooting in the 2300 block of Schaul Street found Miles shot in a driveway. He was rushed to Piedmont Columbus Regional, where an emergency room doctor pronounced him dead at 6:58 p.m., authorities said. Police said they have charged Kenyonte Hudson with murder, aggravated assault, and using a gun to commit a crime in Miles’ death.
8, 9 and 10) Feb. 18: Michael Carter Sr., 54; Michael Carter Jr., 19; and Tonya Carter, 50.
The father and son were pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds at 9:48 p.m. at the Motel 6 on Victory Drive, said Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. Carter Sr.’s wife Tonya Carter was hit in the neck and critically wounded, and was in Piedmont Columbus Regional hospital when she died on March 4, he said. A child also was wounded and sent to Egleston Hospital in Atlanta, he said.
11) Feb. 19: Leonardo Kentrell Luke, 15.
Police said Luke was found shot in the head when officers were called at 1:56 p.m. to Village Way and St. Mary’s Road.
12) Feb. 26: James McTyre, 66.
McTyre was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds at 7:10 a.m. on the scene at 2100 Wynnton Road, said Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. That’s at the intersection of Wynnton Road and Brown Avenue.
13) Feb. 27: Jeffery Randez Smith, 36.
Smith was found with a gunshot wound while still seated on his bike in a ditch, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. Police said officers were called at 9:48 p.m. to the shooting at 35th Street and Fifth Avenue, where Smith was pronounced dead at 10:25 p.m. Anyone with information was asked to contact Cpl. Robert Nicholas at 706-225-4363 or robertnicholas@columbusga.org.
14 and 15) March 7: Ronisha Anderson, 51, and Juantonja “Tonja” Richmond, 52.
The two friends were found dead from multiple gunshot wounds on Clay Street in southeast Columbus, where a neighbor said she heard the gunfire around 11 a.m. Deputy Coroner Ben Saxon pronounced them dead at 12:15 p.m. Anyone with information was asked to contact Sgt. A. Williams at 706-225-4329 or awilliams@columbusga.org.
16) March 9: Robert Carter, 34.
Carter was found dead at Macon Road and I-185 between 3:30-4:30 a.m. after he was hit by a car, police said. Investigators later decided the hit and run was intentional, and arrested Ashly Lewis on March 14 for aggravated assault and murder.
17) March 9: Sergio Alamo, 18.
Alamo’s skeletal remains were found around 12:30 p.m. off Transport Boulevard, but the body was not identified until June 24. He was reported missing in November 2021, according to news reports. Coroner Buddy Bryan said Alamo had a gunshot wound to the head, and the coroner’s office would record his death as a 2023 homicide.
18) March 24: Natalie Bell, 39.
Officers dispatched at 11:06 p.m. to a shooting at the Mystic Mart on Brown Avenue found Bell with a gunshot wound. An ambulance took her to Piedmont Columbus Regional, where an emergency room doctor pronounced her dead at 11:49 p.m. Anyone with information was asked to contact Cpl. R. Green at 706-225-4261 or roygreen@columbusga.org.
19) March 25: Sharon Johnson, 63.
Officers called at 12:03 a.m. to a shooting in the 900 block of Joy Road found Johnson with a gunshot wound inside the residence, police said. Coroner Buddy Bryan pronounced her dead at 1:15 a.m. Investigators have warrants charging Dominique Vangue, 29, with five counts of aggravated assault in the shooting, police said. Anyone with information was asked to contact Cpl. R. Vardman at 706-225-4257 or rvardman@columbbusga.org.
20) April 5: Derek Bowden Jr., 23.
Bowden was shot in the 400 block of Old Buena Vista Road, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan, who pronounced him dead at 5:40 p.m. Anyone with information was asked to contact Detective Sherman Hayes at 706-225-4268 or shayes@columbusga.org.
21) April 9: Dale Williams, 39.
Officers called at 3:32 a.m. to a shooting in the 4900 block of Buena Vista Road found Williams lying in a parking lot with gunshot wounds, police said. Muscogee County Deputy Coroner Ben Saxon pronounced him dead at 4:11 a.m. A second victim wounded in the shooting was treated and released from Piedmont Columbus Regional. Anyone with information was asked to contact Sgt. Kelly Phillips at 706-225-4408 or kphillips@columbusga.org.
22) April 16: Jarrell Lamar Williamson, 27.
Williamson was pronounced dead at 3:03 a.m. from a gunshot wound to his torso, according to the coroner, who said he was shot at the Warren Williams housing area off Wynnton Road in midtown.
23) April 21: Jeffrey Dean Dillon, 54.
Officers called at 6:44 a.m. to reports of a dead body in the 2900 block of 10th Street found Dillon on the ground next to a truck, police said. Medics could not revive him, and Deputy Coroner Ben Saxon pronounced him dead from multiple gunshot wounds at 7:24 a.m. Anyone with information was asked to contact Sgt. D. Battle at 706-225-4340 or dbattle@columbusga.org.
24) April 22: Correll Rambo, 29.
Rambo was pronounced dead from gunshot wounds at 5:11 p.m. after Investigators were called to the 6200 block of Joyner Drive, said Coroner Buddy Bryan.
25) May 19: Jaeden Tate, 14.
Investigators said a motorist dropped the wounded Tate off at Fire Station No. 6 on Brown Avenue before he was rushed to a hospital, where he died from being shot in the upper left chest at 3:27 p.m.
26) June 8: Damia Green, 20.
Officials said Green died following a shooting in the 3900 block of Steam Mill Road where she received a gunshot wound. A suspect was was taken into custody, according to CPD’s Twitter page.
27) June 15: Deyon Wade, 22.
Columbus Police responded to the 2500 block of Wedgefield Court where they found Wade lying in the road with a gunshot wound, according to police. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:59 p.m., said Coroner Buddy Bryan.
28) July 5: Maurice Burton, 33.
Columbus Police responded to a shooting followed by a car crash in the area of Benner Avenue and Hood Street. An autopsy later confirmed that Burton suffered a gunshot wound, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. If you or anyone you know has any information regarding this case you can call Sgt. M. Dahnke at 706-225-4929 or mdahnke@columbusga.org.
29) July 6: James Mitchell IV, 46.
Mitchell died at 9:32 p.m. from multiple gunshot wounds at the hospital, the coroner said. Police said 19-year-old Jaboree Boone-Scott was charged with murder and using a gun to commit a crime after the shooting at the Motel 6 on Victory Drive.
30) July 7: Bobby Lyons, 17.
Lyons was found suffering multiple gunshot wounds after police responded to reports of a shooting in the 1200 block of Gazebo Way, police say. Lyons was pronounced dead at 9:02 a.m. at the Piedmont ICU, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Cpl. Sherman Hayes at 706-225-4268 or shayes@columbusga.org.
31) July 14: Jimmy Hearns, 43.
Hearns died after suffering a gunshot wound following a shooting on Buena Vista Road in Columbus, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. DNA samples were sent to the GBI in order to help identify Hearns, according to Bryan.
32) July 24: Scottie Lee Harris, 53.
Harris was fatally shot in the 3600 block of Surrey Lane in Columbus, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. The Columbus Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene and is investigating, according to the department’s Twitter account.
33) July 24: Lysta Lewis, 77.
Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:09 p.m. after being stabbed in the 7200 block of Wedel Drive, according to officials. The Columbus Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit is investigating, according to the department’s Twitter page.
34) Aug. 16: Joseph Kimble, 40.
Officers called at 10:36 p.m. to reports of gunfire in the 2900 block of King Street found Kimble with multiple gunshot wounds, police said. Deputy Coroner Elizabeth Allison pronounced him dead at 11:33 p.m. Anyone with tips was asked to contact Cpl. Christy Edenfield at 706-225-4344 or cedenfield@columbusga.org.
35) Aug. 18: Gisele Lara, 21.
Lara was shot dead in a murder-suicide on Columbus State University’s main campus, said investigators alleging she was killed by Nathaniel Janik, 25. Lara was found shot in the head about 10:40 a.m., inside a parked car, and Janik lay on the ground nearby, authorities said.
36) Aug. 26: Delarance Jones, 31.
Officers called at 11:09 a.m. to reports of someone on the ground in the 2900 block of Colorado Street found Jones with gunshot wounds. Deputy Coroner Ben Saxon pronounced him dead at 11:37 a.m. Police later charged Jaleel Taylor, 30, in Jones’ death.
37) Aug. 27: Brandon Tells, 23.
Officers called at 11:16 p.m. to a stabbing in the 100 block of 31st Avenue found that Tells already had been taken to the hospital by private vehicle. Investigators going to Piedmont Columbus Regional learned an emergency room doctor had pronounced Tells dead from a chest wound at 11:45 p.m. Police charged Erin Smithson, 23, in Tells’ death.
38) Aug. 31: Dayton Willis, 16.
Police found Willis shot multiple times in front of a ball field at Double Churches Park. Deputy Coroner Dustin Harrelson pronounced him dead there at 1:36 a.m. oN NoV. 13, police charged Akiraon Reed, 15, with murder, using a gun to commit a crime and being a minor in possession of a firearm.
39) Sept. 10: Mardarrius Collier, 26.
Collier was shot multiple times in the 4000 block of Oates Avenue, police said. He was pronounced dead at 3:21 p.m., at a local hospital, said Coroner Buddy Bryan.
40) Sept. 12: Javon Cherrl Smith, 21.
Police called at 11:23 p.m. Sept. 11 to Wilson Apartments found Smith with a gunshot wound to the chest, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at 12:01 a.m., the coroner said. Police charged Jadarious Greene, 18, with murder and using a gun to commit a crime.
41) Sept. 18: Jacquese Walker Jr., 4.
The child died from a gunshot wound after a family violence incident at the Liberty Commons Apartments on North Lumpkin Road, said Coroner Buddy Bryan. Police were called there at 8:02 a.m., find a woman also was wounded in the shooting. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:50 a.m., Bryan said. Columbus police aided by other agencies captured father Jacquese Antwan Walker, 35, the next day in midtown and charged him with murder and aggravated assault.
42) Sept. 18: Deshaunvia Lindsey, 15.
Officers called at 5:13 p.m. to a shooting at the city’s Fluellen Recreational Center, 2824 Eighth St., found Lindsey with gunshot wounds. An ambulance took him to Piedmont Columbus Regional, where he was pronounced dead at 5:48 p.m. Police on Sept. 20 charged Camario Carter with murder in Lindsey’s death.
43) Sept. 20: Esteban DeJesus, 23.
Police were called around 1 p.m. to a shooting in the 3400 block of St. Mary’s Road, where DeJesus was pronounced dead at 1:38 p.m., said Coroner Buddy Bryan.
44) Sept. 22: Oscar Alfonso Maxwell, 22.
Muscogee sheriff’s deputies fatally shot Maxwell while trying to arrest him at the Baymont Inn & Suites on Whitesville Road, where he was pronounced dead about 11 p.m., authorities said. The deputies had a warrant for Maxwell, who saw them coming, walked into his room and came out with guns, firing at them, investigators said. The deputies shot back, killing him, they said.
45) Sept. 23: Joseph Antonio Lopez Rodriguez, 23.
Officers were called at 3:32 p.m. to reports of someone shot at the Right Stop in the 2000 block of Fort Benning Road, where they found Rodriguez wounded in a car, authorities said. He died after being rushed to Piedmont Columbus Regional. Investigators later were told the shooting occurred near Shelby Street and Douglas Street, and a motorist took him to the Right Stop to call 911.
46) Sept. 26: Ke’Niyah Gates, 6 months.
The baby was injured Sept. 25 at Bull Creek Apartments, 17 Creek Way, but no charges were filed until an autopsy showed the child died from “non-accidental” bleeding in the brain, said police Sgt. Lorri Zieverink. Police called to the pediatric emergency unit at Piedmont Columbus Regional found the staff carrying the child to a helicopter to be flown to the Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta, where she died, Zieverink said. The child’s mother, Shantra Denise Gates, 23, was charged with felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children.
47) Sept. 30: Willie Edward Foster, 44.
Foster died from blunt-force trauma and apparent strangulation after he got into a fight with another homeless man in the 1100 block of First Avenue, where he was pronounced dead at 1:07 a.m., said Coroner Buddy Bryan. A police report said officers were called to the scene outside a church at 12:09 a.m. Investigators later charged David Brian Lucier, 59, with murder, after an autopsy showed Foster died from strangulation and blunt-force trauma.
48) Oct. 1: Jhalani Blow, 3.
The little girl died from a gunshot wound to the torso at 6:41 p.m. after she was shot at a home on Toney Drive, according to the coroner.
49) Oct. 3: Elijah Farral, 23.
Officers called at 8:37 p.m. to a shooting at Rigdon Road and 10th Street found Farral with gunshot wounds, police said. An ambulance took him to Piedmont Columbus Regional, where an emergency room doctor pronounced him dead at 9 p.m. Anyone with information was asked to contact Sgt. Donna Baker at 706-225-4296 or dbaker@columbusga.org.
50) Oct. 25: Frank Bell, 50.
Officers called at 12:01 a.m. to a shooting in the 2500 block of Clover Lane found Bell lying wounded on the ground. He was rushed to Piedmont Columbus Regional, where an emergency room doctor pronounced him dead at 12:51 a.m. Anyone with information was asked to contact Cpl. Jared Berger at 706-225-4825 or berger.jared@columbusga.org.
51) Oct. 30: Casadarius McGhee, 14.
Patrol officers at 9:33 a.m. responded to the 1000 block of Adair Avenue, where they found McGhee shot near a pathway between 9th Street and River Homes Apartments. Medics were unable to resuscitate the teen, whom Deputy Coroner Dustin Harrelson pronounced dead at 10:11 a.m. Anyone with information was asked to contact Cpl. Christy Edenfield at 706-225-4344 or CEdenfield@columbusga.org.
52) Oct. 31: Christina Richardson, 37.
Police responding at 6 p.m. to reports of a dead body at the Motel 6, 3050 Victory Drive, entered a room and found Richardson had been shot. Investigators charged Brandon Patterson, 40, with murder.
53) Nov. 6: Timothy Carey, 56.
Police found Carey wounded when they were called to a shooting in the 2900 block of Blanchard Place. He was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m., according to the coroner’s office.
54) Nov. 8: Michael Brown, 36.
Witnesses reported someone yelling for help at 6:12 p.m. in the 1500 block of Harvey Avenue, where a resident found Brown with gunshot wounds. An ambulance took him to Piedmont Columbus Regional, where an emergency room doctor pronounced him dead at 6:48 p.m. Anyone with information was asked to contact Sgt. Danielle Danforth at 706-225-4299 or ddanforth@columbusga.org.
55) Nov. 21: Jermaine Thirkield, 18.
Police called at 7:21 p.m. to a shooting at Schatulga Road and Macon Road found two men with gunshot wounds. Both were rushed to the hospital, where an emergency room doctor pronounced Thirkield dead at 8:28 p.m. The other victim had surgery and was in critical condition. Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to contact Sgt. Kelly Phillips at 706-225-4408 or kphillips@columbusga.org.
56) Dec. 11: Chance Neal, 2 months.
Columbus police said investigators first were called Dec. 7 to reports of an unresponsive infant at Piedmont Columbus Regional. After the child died four days later at Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation autopsy found the cause of death to be blunt-force trauma, authorities said. Police on Dec. 21 arrested the mother, Lakisha Neal, 35, on charges of murder, first-degree cruelty to children and second-degree cruelty to children.
57) Dec. 28: Demetrius Heard, 43.
Heard died in the hospital from multiple gunshot wounds sustained Dec. 18 on Dirk Way, the coroner said. He was pronounced dead at 2:12 p.m. in the intensive care unit at Piedmont Columbus Regional. Columbus police at 6:41 p.m. Dec. 18 posted online that they were investigating a shooting at 530 Dirk Way.
We’ll update this list as homicides are reported.
This story was originally published February 15, 2023 at 8:34 PM.