It may not have been the shot heard ‘round the world, but several thousand viewers did hear the shots Tuesday evening that led to the arrest of a Columbus man for shooting into the home of a popular local social media show host.
Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said Tyshon Lavell Morris, 19, was arrested Wednesday and charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling, a felony.
“No one was injured and no other property was damaged, other than the shots fired into the home,” Hawkins said.
Arthur Harris, aka The Judge, was an hour into his Tuesday evening show, called GTA Supreme Court, when a burst of shots, seven altogether, rang out, shortly before 7 p.m. Harris ducked for cover and his followers — which number in the thousands — watched in horror and confusion. A couple of minutes later, Harris appeared on screen again, though clearly shaken.
“I didn’t know what was happening at first,” Harris said. “It was just crazy. Fortunately, me and my dog were in the living room and the shots hit the back of the house, so we weren’t hurt.”
Harris has been producing his show, which provides commentary on local gossip and news that makes its way onto social media, for almost four years. He broadcasts his show on Facebook and Instagram from his home in the county near Columbus Air Force Base.
Harris said he does not know Morris but had talked about a “case” that involved Morris and another person who had been in a dispute that was posted on TikTok.
“That’s what the show is all about,” Harris said. “We see all the mess on social media and talk about all the drama going on around here. Sometimes people do get mad and make threats, but nothing like this has happened before,” Harris said. “The only thing I can think is he didn’t like something I said.”
Harris said the incident, while frightening, will not prevent him from doing the show.
“We’re just getting started,” he said. “This won’t stop me.”
Morris is being held at Lowndes County Adult Detention Center on a $7,500 bond.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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