Court: November homicide victim fatally shot in retaliation

Demartre Trevon Harris was seeking revenge when he killed 30-year-old Marcus Bowden in a Nov. 24 shooting on Cusseta Road, a detective testified today in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Harris, 22, faces nine charges stemming from the homicide and two other area shootings he allegedly was involved in between Nov. 23 and Jan. 9.

Detective Daniel Middlebrooks said the first of the three shootings occurred Nov. 23 in the 2900 block of Cusseta Road.

Police said they were called to the scene around 6:15 p.m. that day after it was reported that two men standing in a yard were shot. The shots were fired from a SUV with two occupants, Middlebrooks noted.

Both victims were found on the scene with a gunshot wound in their left thigh, and one of the men was suffering from two additional gunshot wounds in the face, Middlebrooks testified. They were treated at the Midtown Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries and later released.

Both victims identified a man by the nickname of “Five” as the shooter, but didn’t name the other occupant in the SUV, Middlebrooks told the court.

Detective Wayne Fairburn said he was called to 2900 Cusseta Road a day later to investigate another shooting in the area that happened around 11:20 a.m.

It was reported that a white SUV with two occupants “pulled up in the street” and shots rang out from the vehicle, striking Bowden in the stomach and buttocks.

Fairburn said the 30-year-old man was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:35 p.m.

Witnesses on the scene told police that the fatal shooting was a “continuation of an incident that occurred several days earlier at M & M Package store.”

“An individual by the name of ‘Five,’ who we later identified as Demartre Trevon Harris, had been beaten up by several individuals that were associated with 2900 Cusseta Road,” Fairburn testified. “This was retaliation for that particular incident.”

After reviewing the surveillance video of the homicide and incident at the M & M Package store, police identified the white SUV involved in the Cusseta Road shootings as a 2001 Ford Explorer registered to a woman Harris was dating.

Police said they confirmed that Harris was in possession of the vehicle during both shootings and was overheard discussing the details of the murder.

“He has also made references to it on social media,” Fairburn said.

Officials said he was also seen in possession of a .45 caliber handgun that police believe was used in the both Cusseta Road shootings.

By Nov. 25, police had obtained multiple warrants for Harris’ arrest, including one for murder.

According to police, surveillance video shows Antonio Gardner, an individual who was identified as “being with” Harris, less than two blocks away from the fatal shooting 10 minutes prior to the homicide. He was arrested on charges unrelated to the incident.

Representing Harris, Columbus Public Defender Charles Lykins asked Fairburn if Gardner was one of the two individuals seen traveling in the Ford Explorer at the time of the homicide.

Fairburn replied, “Possibly.”

Lykins then asked Fairburn if Gardner was being used as a witness in the fatal shooting, and the detective declined to answer.

Police say they’ve also have linked Harris to a Jan. 8 incident at the BP parking lot at 3921 Buena Vista Road in which several shots were fired at a Chevy Silverado occupied by two people. No injures were reported, but the vehicle was struck by four bullets fired from a 9mm pistol.

Police believe Harris was one of four men involved in the incident. Ja’Colby Brooks Douglas, Adonis Keoonte Pernell and Johnny Henderson pleaded not guilty in Recorder’s Court on Jan. 26 to charges related to the 11:43 p.m. shooting.

Officer Donna Baker said the suspects in the shooting believe that the driver of the Chevy Silverado shot one of their homes.

About a month later, police ran across a lead that ultimately led to his arrest.

Police received a call on Feb. 16 notifying them that 18-year-old Niagara Thomas and the 6-month-old child she shares with Harris had been missing for five days.

The family said Thomas and her baby, Nehliyah, left with a friend of Niagara's, and they were supposed to return home that following afternoon.

When they did not, the family contacted the friend who said she drove the mother and child to a St. Marys Road convenience store. They met with Harris at the business and left with him in a white car, according to reports.

Police said they discovered that the woman and child were safe after Thomas showed up to her mother’s home around 1:45 p.m. Sunday.

Authorities said they obtained social media records that confirmed that Thomas was secretly in constant contact with Harris after they informed her that he was wanted on multiple warrants.

Fairburn said they determined that Thomas was “giving him information to assist him in eluding police.” She was apprehended Monday on a warrant charging her with hindering the apprehension of a criminal.

Sgt. Lance Deaton said officials received information through “different investigatory resources” that led them to believe that Thomas and Harris had been at a Columbus residence at 4924 Sentry St.

Police were told that a man nicknamed “Flip,” who was sometimes seen with Harris, was known to visit that same house within the last “several days.” Police later determined that “Flip” was Anthony Marquis Sheldon, a 25-year-old man who was wanted on multiple probation violation warrants at the time.

The Columbus Fugitive Squad executed a search warrant at the home around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Officials said they found Harris and Sheldon at the residence with the homeowner.

“When we made entry into the residence, we found (the homeowner) and Sheldon in one bedroom,” Deaton testified. “Then we found Mr. Harris in a back bedroom with barricaded doors that we had to force open in order to take him in to custody.”

Sheldon was arrested and charged with hindering the apprehension of a criminal, because they believe he had prior knowledge about Harris’ warrants.

“Mr. Harris’ face and information had been all over television recently and all the way back to November,” Deaton said. “He was also all over social media.”

Police seized potential evidence from the home, including multiple cellphones, clothing and a .45 caliber handgun Smith & Wesson with an extended magazine that had 27 rounds. Officials said they do not believe it was the weapon used in the shootings mentioned in court.

“It is very possible that that weapon has been involved in some other incidents that are currently under investigation,” Deaton said.

None of the defendants testified in court.

Harris pleaded not guilty to murder, three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, violation of probation, theft by taking and criminal trespass.

Sheldon and Thomas pleaded not guilty to hindering the apprehension of a criminal.

Harris was denied bond on multiple charges, while the other defendants were given OR bonds.

Judge Michael Cielinski bound each case over to Superior Court.

Sarah Robinson: 706-571-8622, @sarahR_92

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Court: November homicide victim fatally shot in retaliation."