A $500,000 bond has been set for the Columbus man accused of murdering his friend last week.
Municipal Court Judge Marc Amos set the $500,000 bond for Randal Carl Cooper Jr. Monday afternoon. Cooper is charged with the murder of 23-year-old Virgil Harris of Crawford.
Investigators with the Columbus Police Department allege Cooper shot Harris to death on the morning of Dec. 20 near the intersection of Third Avenue North and 21st Street. The incident occurred as Harris was exiting the vehicle.
According to Chief Selvain McQueen, witnesses on scene saw Cooper shoot Harris multiple times while the two were inside a vehicle with an unidentified female. Witnesses said Cooper continued shooting Harris after he fell out of the car and onto the ground. Cooper then fled the scene. Harris was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle where he died from his injuries. A warrant was issued for Cooper’s arrest Friday. He turned himself in later that day.
As of press time, Cooper had not made bond. He is currently in the custody of the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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