Three more arrested in Shirley B. Winston park shooting in Columbus, police say
Three additional arrests have been made in connection with the shooting death of a man at a Columbus park in August, the Columbus Police Department announced Wednesday.
Police said 20-year-old Elijah Smith, 21-year-old Cortez Turner and 18-year-old Christopher Culler were arrested Tuesday. All three were charged with murder and armed robbery in connection with the death of 22-year-old Jacarie Charles at the Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center.
Previous arrests
Police previously announced the arrests of 18-year-old Navaris Johnson and 20-year-old JaMorris Baker in connection with Charles’ death.
CPD assistant chief Lance Deaton said Johnson is believed to have been the shooter, while Baker is believed to have supplied the firearm.
Deaton said the incident was caught on surveillance video.
“The footage shows the shooter approaching the victim, attempting to take his belongings and firing and striking the victim,” Deaton said.
The suspect fled with some of the victim’s items, according to Deaton.
Smith, Turner, Culler and Baker were scheduled to appear in Recorder’s court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, according to police. Baker was being held in Russell County initially, but has been extradited to Columbus.
Police said more arrests are expected as the investigation proceeds.
Councilor responds, asks for legislation
Toyia Tucker, Columbus councilor for District 4, home to the park, said she immediately called the park once she saw a Facebook post alerting people to something happening at the park.
“You could hear the sheer fear in the voices of those in the area,” Tucker said.
Tucker said there are no guardrails when it comes to carrying weapons inside parks and recreation facilities, which she attributed to state open-carry laws.
“We have children in the facilities, and we need to protect them, and I don’t think we should have the ability to have weapons in those facilities,” Tucker said.
Tucker sponsored a resolution during a Sept. 23 council meeting requesting that Georgia law be amended to prohibit the carrying of firearms and other dangerous weapons in recreation centers/facilities owned and run by local governments.
The council unanimously approved Tucker’s resolution with an amendment to make it clear that the weapons ban could apply to only the buildings, and not the surrounding grounds and parks. While the resolution was approved, state law still would need to be changed by the Georgia legislature in order for it to take effect.