Columbus Police Department is adding security for Columbus High School home football games for the remainder of the season in light of a parking lot shooting outside Falcon Stadium Friday night.
Mayor Robert Smith announced Monday the city would dedicate five officers for extra security for home football games.
Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Philip Hickman said this would bolster total security to 15 officers, including six resource officers CMSD employs and four other contracted officers.
Police arrested Devonte Harris, 23, of West Point on Friday after he allegedly fired up to five shots from the Falcon Field parking lot during the fourth quarter of CHS’s homecoming football game against DeSoto Central. No one was injured and no property was reported damaged.
Harris is charged with possession of a weapon on a school campus and has bonded out of Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
CPD investigators are also seeking other suspects in the incident.
“High school football is an important tradition in the South and I don’t want the actions of a small group of people from discouraging attendance at these events,” Smith said in a prepared statement. “As a former football coach, I want to encourage members of our community to come out and support these teams. These athletes from all sports work hard throughout the year and community support for these events are valuable to them and encourage them in their work. The investigation into last Friday’s event continues and we hope for more arrests.”
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