Crime

Teenager shot dead early Sunday in Columbus’ Belvedere Park, police say

A Columbus Police Department patrol car blocks an intersection in Columbus, Georgia as investigators process a crime scene.
A Columbus Police Department patrol car blocks an intersection in Columbus, Georgia as investigators process a crime scene. Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com

A teenager found shot early Sunday at Columbus’ Belvedere Park has died from his wounds, police reported.

Officers called to the park at 1:41 a.m. found 18-year-old Earkus Porter Jr. with gunshot wounds, authorities said.

Medics were unable to revive him, and Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan pronounced him dead at 2:21 p.m., police said.

Belvedere Park is on Parkview Drive about a block south of Buena Vista Road in southeast Columbus.

Anyone with information on Porter’s shooting is asked to contact Sgt. Donna Baker at 706-225-4296 or DBaker@columbusga.org.

Profile Image of Tim Chitwood
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.
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER