A bond reduction has been denied for a woman accused of fatally shooting another woman in the parking lot of a Columbus restaurant.
Tarkesha Carter, 25, appeared in Columbus Municipal Court Thursday afternoon for her preliminary hearing. Wearing a red jumpsuit and handcuffed at her wrists and ankles, Carter smiled and waved to her family before proceedings began.
Carter is accused of fatally shooting Brittany Foster, 27, in the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings in August. She is charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated assault for allegedly shooting at another woman during the incident. After allegedly shooting Foster, Carter, investigators say, went into Buffalo Wild Wings carrying a loaded gun and attempted to confront the other woman. When the woman and several patrons ran out of the back of the restaurant, Carter followed and fired at least one shot, according to law enforcement.
Carter’s attorney, Bruce Brown of Starkville, described the situation as a “love triangle.”
After testimony from two investigators with the Columbus Police Department, one of which said Carter shot Foster in the head and then stood over her body and shot her again, Judge Marc Amos ruled there was probable cause for Carter’s case to be taken to the grand jury. Investigators confirmed during the hearing that two guns were found at the scene.
After the hearing, Brown asked Amos to reduce Carter’s $600,000 bond to $50,000, claiming Carter acted in self-defense. At her initial appearance in August, Carter received a $300,000 bond for the murder charge and a $300,000 bond for an aggravated assault charge. Brown requested Carter’s bond be reduced to $40,000 for the murder charge and $10,000 for the aggravated assault charge.
City prosecutor Scott Colom objected to the reduction, saying Brown’s request was “preposterous.”
“This is one of the most dangerous acts I’ve seen,” Colom said. “(Carter) shot someone in the head. After shooting that person in the head, she stood over them and then shot them again…she was on a tirade.”
Investigations Commander Brent Swan also objected to the bond reduction, saying Carter “brutally murdered” Foster with “reckless disregard for human life.” Noting that Carter shot Foster in a public place, Swan said he believed Carter was an “imminent threat to the public at large.”
Amos denied Brown’s motion.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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