Authorities have arrested a Columbus man for allegedly shooting into a car and injuring a teenager early Sunday morning.
Officers with the Columbus Police Department arrested Mark Howard Coffey Jr. at his Jess Lyons Road home about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Fred Shelton, the interim chief of police with CPD. Coffey, 25, will be charged with aggravated assault, authorities said.
At about 2 a.m. Sunday, CPD officers responded to a shots fired call at Suds & Duds on Main Street. Arriving at the scene, no suspects were found. About 2:40 a.m. Sunday, CPD received a call from the hospital about a teen girl there who had been shot.
Officers talked to the victim — a 16-year-old female — who reported that she and another female had been in a vehicle with a man at Suds & Duds when the man got into an altercation with another man. As the vehicle with the girls started to pull away from the business, the other man pulled out a gun and fired four shots, two of which hit the car. One of the bullets hit the victim — who authorities have declined to identify — in the upper back. She was treated and released from Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, according to authorities.
Officers recovered four shell casings at the scene. CPD on its Twitter account, later released surveillance footage from the shooting, asking for the public’s help in identifying the alleged shooter.
Shelton told The Dispatch shortly after Coffey’s arrest an anonymous tip led officers to the suspect. Police have obtained a warrant to search Coffey’s house for the weapon he used, according to Shelton.
Coffey is expected to have a preliminary hearing today. He remains in custody.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 29 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
