District Attorney Scott Colom and Police Chief Joseph Daughtry appealed to witnesses to come forward with evidence about the fatal shooting at the Inferno sports bar at a Tuesday afternoon press conference held at Columbus Police Department.
“Join the justice team,” Colom said. “We know there were witnesses in that nightclub. It was crowded. If you have information, cooperate. We can protect you.”
Undra Lamorris Williams, 30, is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Devan Thompson, 33. Four other people were also wounded in the Friday night shooting.
Williams and Thompson had a history of violent conflict, Colom said, but previous prosecutions were unsuccessful.
“They’ve had conflict for a long time,” Colom said. “… That’s why witness cooperation is so important. When you don’t have people willing to give statements and testify at trial, you can’t prosecute people.”
Thompson had been arrested on three counts of aggravated assault following a fatal Labor Day 2012 shooting, in which one teen was killed and Williams was wounded. A grand jury didn’t indict him.
“I’m very confident about this case, but you can’t have too much evidence,” Colom said. “People say getting evidence is the police’s job, but the evidence is people. We’re not magicians. If there’s no video, you’ve got to be willing to give a statement.”
Colom said he viewed this case as similar to the recent murder conviction of Kenny Armistad for fatally shooting Frank Edwards, 20, in the victim’s yard on 12th Avenue South. Prior to the murder, efforts to prosecute Armistad for lesser charges had failed.
“(Armistad) was one who had gotten into a lot of trouble over a long period of time, and we finally got a case on him, and he got life plus 50 years,” Colom said. “This is the type of situation (the Williams prosecution) is going to be.”
‘He walked in the door with it’
Daughtry said Williams was the only shooter Friday night, but he declined to comment on how he got a gun into the nightclub.
“How he got past security is still under investigation, but we know he walked in the door with it,” Daughtry said.
Daughtry also declined to comment on whether there were metal detectors or security guards with wands screening patrons. Colom on Monday told The Dispatch security was purportedly on site.
Daughtry said he wanted to sit down with nightclub owners and talk about security concerns.
“We’re going to host a meeting with our club owners,” Daughtry said. “… We’re going to talk with them about some concerns that we’re hearing from neighbors and patrons. We want to enhance their security and educate them on the liability they have.”
CPD is getting out and going to clubs to check security, Daughtry said.
“We’re going to everybody’s clubs, so you might as well get ready,” Daughtry said. “CPD is coming to a club near you.”
Anyone with knowledge of this case is asked to call Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at (800) 530-7151, or use the P3 smartphone app. Tips remain anonymous, and if they lead to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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