With the latest shooting victim succumbing, Columbus records 55th homicide in 2023

A man has died in the hospital from multiple gunshot wounds sustained Dec. 18 in Columbus, authorities said Thursday.

Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan identified the deceased as Demetrius Heard, 43.

Heard was pronounced dead at 2:12 p.m., Thursday, in the intensive care unit at Piedmont Columbus Regional, Bryan said.

Columbus police called at 5:52 p.m. to reports of a shooting in the 500 block of Dirk Way found Heard shot, before an ambulance took him to the hospital, where he had been listed in critical condition.

Anyone with information on the shooting may contact Cpl. Christy Edenfield at 706-987-7564 or cedenfield@columbusga.org.

Dirk Way is between Steam Mill Road and Buena Vista Road in the city’s southeast corner.

Heard’s death marks the 55th homicide so far this year in Columbus, according to the Ledger-Enquirer’s tally.

This story was originally published December 29, 2023 at 12:00 AM.

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.