Editor’s Note: This report has been updated with the victims’ names, which authorities released after its publication.
Columbus police have made arrests in two separate fatal shootings that killed three people, including an 8-year-old, on Wednesday.
Jaquenton Bush, 22, has been charged with two counts of capital murder following a shooting during an argument that broke out between family members at his 26th Street North home Wednesday afternoon.
It was the second fatal shooting Columbus police were called to that day, after another man was found dead in his home a few blocks away in a separate incident.
Police were called to the domestic shooting at about 12:30 p.m. When they arrived at the home, police found a child deceased in the driveway and an adult with gunshot wounds inside the residence. The adult was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle and then via helicopter to another trauma center. She died later Wednesday.
Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant identified the victims as Erica Bush Brewer, 49, and her 8-year-old daughter Jayda Brewer. Their bodies will be sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Pearl for autopsies.
Police found Bush still in the area and took him into custody.
Shelton said all three family members involved in the shooting had the same last name, and authorities believe they all lived in the same home.
Overnight shooting
In a separate incident, Korey Harris, 16, of Columbus, has been charged with capital murder for the death of a man found in his home on 15th Avenue North Wednesday morning.
Merchant identified the victim as Eddie Lee Gandy, 67. Police were called to the home just after 8 a.m. after a friend of the victim couldn’t get in touch with him and called 911.
Shelton said authorities found Gandy dead in his house from a gunshot wound, along with signs of forcible entry.
“We don’t want to give details that will compromise the case, but we believe a person or persons forced their way into the home of the victim,” Shelton said in a press release issued early this morning. “What happened after that is under investigation, but the victim was found inside the home. Someone had gone through the home looking for something.”
Suspects are charged with capital murder when they are accused of killing someone during the commission of another felony. In this case, Gandy was killed during a robbery, Shelton told The Dispatch.
Juveniles over the age of 14 are charged as adults in murder cases or other violent felonies.
Investigators expect to make at least one more arrest in the case, Shelton told The Dispatch via text message this morning.
The press release said investigators found two shell casings outside the home and that neighbors reported hearing gunshots, but that no one called the police until the victim’s friend called Wednesday morning.
“We can’t help unless people call us,” he said. “You don’t have to give your name; call 911, please.”
Gandy’s body will be taken to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy as well.
Shelton stressed both to The Dispatch and in Thursday’s press releases that authorities do not believe the two shootings are related.
Anyone with information on either shooting is asked to call CPD at 662-244-3500 or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 800-530-7151. Those with information can also leave an anonymous tip on the P3 Tips phone application.
Bush and Harris are both in Lowndes County Adult Detention Center. Their bonds have not been set.
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