A West Point man has been arrested in connection with a Friday night shooting outside Falcon Field, the football stadium of Columbus High School.
Devonte Harris, 23, of West Point is in Lowndes County Adult Detention Center charged with possession of a firearm on a school campus.
Columbus police responded to the Falcon Field parking lot just before 10 p.m., during the fourth quarter of the CHS football team’s homecoming contest against DeSoto Central, a police department spokesperson confirmed.
A suspect had reportedly fired five shots from the parking lot, the spokesperson said, but no one was injured and no property was reported damaged.
Once police investigators arrived, they found four witnesses who claimed to be the shooter’s targets. From the witness statements, investigators identified Harris as the suspect. Police also found shell casings at the scene.
Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Philip Hickman did not return calls or messages seeking comment by press time, but he did release a statement through CPD.
“We are so appreciative of the quick response that our law enforcement agencies took in a very unfortunate situation,” the statement said. “We have wonderful students within our community. When an adult makes a bad decision to put the fine people of this community in harm’s way, it must be addressed. Again, I’m thankful our people were prepared to handle the situation.”
A jail official told The Dispatch the suspect’s booking photo would not be available for public release until Monday.
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