One of three suspects in an armed robbery last week outside a downtown restaurant is in police custody.
Investigators with Columbus Police Department arrested Lawrence Frederick Tate, Jr., 19, of 247 William Roberts Road, Thursday, according to a CPD press release issued Tuesday. Tate, along with two other suspects, allegedly approached patrons sitting in an outside patio area of The Princess Theater on Fifth Street just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday and robbed them. An off-duty police officer who was at The Princess playing pool exchanged gunfire with one of the suspects, who fled the scene.
No one was hurt in the gunfire exchange. Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is looking into the officer-involved shooting.
Police Chief Fred Shelton did not comment on whether Tate is the suspect who exchanged fire with the officer.
Tate has been charged with two counts of felony armed robbery. He has been denied bond and is in custody at Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
CPD is still looking for the other two suspects, one of whom is described as a black male wearing all black with a red or orange bandanna covering his face and the other of whom is described as a black male wearing a blue sports jersey with a bandanna covering his face.
Authorities have asked anyone with information on the crime to call Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151.
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