A suspect is in custody for the Saturday homicide of a Columbus man on Southside.
Terry Lee Bradford, 55, of Washington Avenue, turned himself in to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after Walter James Kyles, 56, was found dead with a gunshot wound behind some apartments at the intersection of 11th Street and 11th Avenue South. Bradford has been charged with murder.
Columbus police responded Saturday afternoon to reports of a black male lying on the ground at the scene. Kyles’ body has been taken to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Pearl for autopsy.
In a press release issued this morning, Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton confirmed the victim and suspect knew each other, and investigators believe an earlier altercation between the two men “led to this tragic act of violence.”
Shelton said Bradford opted to turn himself in after he learned police were looking for him.
“A team effort by the Columbus Police Department and the community helped resolve this case quickly,” Shelton said. “With the officers, investigators and our Crime Lab team, we were able to talk to the right people at the right time and identify the suspect.”
Before publicly announcing Bradford’s arrest, city officials met with the victim’s family to inform them of the details of the case and the arrest, Shelton said.
“We made sure the family knew all that we knew so we spent some time with them Sunday,” he said.
Shelton added there could be others charged in the incident but he offered no further details.
Bradford was denied bond in his initial court appearance Sunday afternoon. He is being held in Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
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