After 9-month search, US Marshals in NC arrest Columbus man accused of murdering teen
The nine-month search for a Columbus murder suspect has ended with his arrest, the Columbus Police Department announced Tuesday.
In June, CPD identified Aquiles Saunders, 19, as a suspect in the 2023 shooting death of 17-year-old Bobby Lyons, and a warrant was issued for Saunders’ arrest.
On March 14, U.S. Marshals in North Carolina took Saunders into custody. He was extradited to Columbus and charged with murder, CPD said in the news release.
Saunders is scheduled to appear Wednesday at 8 a.m. in Columbus Recorder’s Court.
What happened in the shooting of Bobby Lyons?
On July 7, 2023, at 9:41 p.m., CPD officers responded to a shooting at Arbor Pointe Apartments in the 1200 block of Gazebo Way. They discovered a male, later identified as Lyons, suffering from gunshot wounds, CPD said in the news release. Lyons was transported by EMS to Piedmont Columbus Regional.
CPD’s Violent Crimes Unit was called to the scene to lead the investigation.
On July 8, 2023, Lyons succumbed to his injuries. Muscogee County Deputy Coroner Elizabeth Allison pronounced him dead at 9:02 a.m., according to the news release.
CPD asks anyone with information about this case to contact Cpl. Sherman Hayes at 706-225-4268 or shayes@columbusga.org. Information also ca be submitted anonymously via TipSoft or by texting VACS plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).
This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 4:49 PM.
