Fourth suspect pleads not guilty to Milgen Road home invasion

Officials said a 22-year-old has permanent brain damage after being shot with his own gun May 11 during a home invasion at Cooper Cove Apartments, according to testimony today in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Dewayne Vidal Searcy, who police identified as the 22-year-old shooter, pleaded not guilty to first-degree home invasion, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Searcy joins Jessica Elliott, 22, Ashley Wright, 24, and Phillip Futrell Jr., 28, who pleaded not guilty on May 13 to one count each of first-degree home invasion and aggravated assault stemming from the 3:40 a.m. shooting.

Detective Joby Duncan with the Investigative Bureau said all of the suspects aside from Elliot had fled the scene at 4770 Milgen Road by the time authorities arrived there to investigate. Elliott and Wright were captured later that day.

The victim was transported to Columbus Midtown Medical Center, where he was treated for gunshot wounds to the head and arm. He was released from the hospital last week but suffers permanent brain damage as a result of the assault, Duncan said.

“He’s under the care of a family member right now, but he’s still in pretty bad shape,” Duncan said.

In a statement to police, Elliott allegedly said she contacted the victim through Facebook and told him that she was coming over to the apartment. She was familiar with the victim but hadn’t seen him for some time. She also knew that he kept some drugs and guns at the apartment, Duncan told the court.

After a conversation with Futrell and Searcy, Elliott and Wright were to knock on the door, enter the apartment and distract the victim long enough for them to unlock the door and allow the two men to enter, the detective reported. The women were allegedly out on the balcony with the victim when the two men entered the apartment.

With his gun left on the coffee table, the victim ran toward the gun, Duncan said. As the two men entered, the Searcy reportedly grabbed the gun and fired three shots. Futrell allegedly told police that he only had a stick with him inside the apartment.

A warrant was then issued for Searcy, who fled the scene with the pistol. Police said they have identified the caliber of that weapon but declined to release that information.

Searcy was arrested in Daytona, Fla. Tuesday by members of the Columbus Police Department’s Fugitive Squad. He was extradited to Columbus the next day and transported to the Muscogee County Jail.

Judge Michael Cielinski ordered Searcy, who didn’t testify, to return to the Muscogee County Jail. He was denied him bond on each count of home invasion but granted bonds totaling $100,000 on the other charges.

The case was bound over to Superior Court.

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 7:54 AM with the headline "Fourth suspect pleads not guilty to Milgen Road home invasion."